LINCOLN  ROOM 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


MEMORIAL 

the  Class  of  1901 

founded  by 

HARLAN  HOYT  HORNER 

and 

HENRIETTA  CALHOUN  HORNER 


(1^ 


William  Ordway  Partridge,  Sc. 

THE    GREELEY   MEMORIAL    MONUMENT 

At  Chappaqua,  N.  Y.,  unveiled  February  3,  1914 


The  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 
Division  of  Archives  and  History 


PROCEEDINGS  AT 

THE    UNVEILING    OF    A 

MEMORIAL    TO 

HORACE    GREELEY 

AT  CHAPPAQUA,  N.  Y. 
FEBRUARY  3,   1914 


WITH    REPORTS   OF  OTHER  GREELEY  CELEBRATIONS  RELATED 
TO   THE  CENTENNIAL   OF   HIS   BIRTH,    FEBRUARY  3,  191 1 


PUBLISHED    UNDER   THE    AUSPICES    OF    THE    STATE    HISTORIAN,   PURSUANT  TO    THE 
PROVISIONS    OF    CHAPTER    643,    LAWS    OF    I913 


ALBANY 
I915 


3 

^  ,  3      THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 

Regents  of  the  University 
With  years  when  terms  expire 

1926  Pliny  T.  Sexton  LL.B.  LL.D.  Chancellor     -    -  Palmyra 

1927  Albert  Vander  Veer  M.D.  M.A.  Ph.D.  LL.D. 

Vice  Chancellor  Albany 

1922  Chester  S.  Lord  M.A.  LL.D.    -----  New  York 

1918  William  Nottingham  M.A.  Ph.D.  LL.D.     -    -Syracuse 
192 1  Francis  M.  Carpenter  -------  Mount  Kjsco 

1923  Abram  L  Elkus  LL.B.  D.C.L.    -----  New  York 

1924  Adelbert  Moot  LL.D.     -------  Buffalo 

1925  Charles    B.    Alexander    M.A.    LL.B.    LL.D. 

Litt.D.      ------_---_  Tuxedo 

1919  John  Moore     ----------  Elmira 

19 16  Walter  Guest  Kellogg  B.A.    -----  Ogdensburg 

19 1 7  (Vacant) 

1920  (Vacant) 

President  of  the  University 
and  Commissioner  of  Education 

John  H.  Finley  M.A.  LL.D.  L.H.D. 

Assistant  Commissioners 

Thomas  E.  Finegan  M.A.  Pd.D.  LL  D.  For  Elementary  Education 

Deputy  Commissioner  of  Education 
Charles  F.  Wheelock  B.S.  LL.D.  For  Secondary  Education 
Augustus  S.  Downing  M.A.  L.H.D.  LL.D.  For  Higher  Education 

Director  of  State  Library 

James  L  Wyer,  Jr,  M.L.S. 

Director  of  Science  and  State  Museum 

John  M   Clarke  Ph.D    D.Sc.  LL.D. 

Chiefs  and  Directors  of  Divisions 

Administration,  George  M.  Wiley  M.A. 

Agricultural  and  Industrial  Education,  Arthur  D   Dean  D.Sc  , 

Director 
Archives  and  History,  James  A.  Holden  B.A.,  Director 
Attendance.  James  D.  Sullivan 
Educational  Extension,  William  R.  Watson  B.S. 
Examinations,  Harlan  H.  Horner  M.A. 
Inspections,  Frank  H.  Wood  M.A. 
Law,  Frank  B.  Gilbert  B.A, 
Library  School,  Frank  K.  Walter  M.A.  M.L.S. 
School  Libraries,  Sherman  Williams  Pd.D. 
Statistics,  Hiram  C.  Case 
Visual  Instruction,  Alfred  W.  Abrams  Ph.B. 


DEDICATION 
This  "  Report  is  intended  as  a  tribute  to  Horace 
Greeley's  memory  and  to  testify  to  the  honor  and 
esteem  in  which  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York 
hold  the  patriotic  services  and  civic  virtues  of  Horace 
Greeley." —  Extract  from  chapter  643,  Laws  of  1913 


A    SELF    APPRECIATION 

My  life  has  been  busy  and  anxious,  but  not  joyless.  Whether 
it  shall  be  prolonged  few  or  more  years,  I  am  grateful  that  it  has 
endured  so  long,  that  it  has  abounded  in  opportunities  for  good 
i.ot  wholly  unimproved,  and  in  experiences  of  the  nobler  as  well 
as  the  baser  impulses  of  human  nature.  I  have  been  spared  to 
see  the  end  of  giant  wrongs,  which  I  once  deemed  invincible  in 
this  century.  And  to  note  the  silent  upspringing  and  growth  of 
principles  and  influences  which  I  hail  as  destined  to  root  out  some 
of  the  most  flagrant  and  pervading  evils  that  yet  remain.  I  realize 
that  each  generation  is  destined  to  confront  new  and  peculiar 
perils  —  to  wrestle  with  temptations  and  seductions  unknown  to 
its  predecessors ;  yet  I  trust  that  progress  is  a  general  law  of  our 
being,  and  that  the  ills  and  woes  of  the  future  shall  be  less  crush- 
ing than  those  of  the  bloody  and  hateful  past.  So  looking  calmly 
yet  humbly  for  that  close  of  my  mortal  career  which  can  not  be 
far  distant,  I  reverently  thank  God  for  the  blessings  vouchsafed 
me  in  the  past;  and  with  an  awe  that  is  not  fear  and  a  conscious- 
ness of  demerit  that  does  not  exclude  hope,  await  the  opening 
before  my  steps  of  the  gates  of  the  Eternal  World. —  Recollections 
of  a  Busy  Life  (Greeley). 


^jC 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction,  James  Austin  11  olden 1 1 

Why  the  Centenary  was  Held,  James  Austin  H olden 17 

The  Statue  at  Chappaqua  Inaugurated  February  3,  1911 29 

Address  of  Jacob  Erlich 31 

Address  of  General  Stewart  L.  Woodford 32 

A  Personal  Impression  of  Horace  Greeley,  Mrs  Gabrielle  Greeley 

Clendenin    33 

Address  of  Daniel  P.  Hays 35 

Address  of  President  John  I.  D.  Bristol 36 

Greetings 38 

New  York  City  Hall  Memorial  Meeting 43 

Opening  Address  by  Albert  E.  Henschel 44 

Address  of  General  Horatio  C.  King 46 

Address  of  Major  General  Daniel  E.  Sickles 53 

Address  of  William  G.  McAdoo 54 

Address  of  Rev.  Dr  Leighton  Williams 55 

Address  of  John  McXaught 59 

Exercises  at  Greeley's  Birthplace,  Amherst,  N.  H 63 

Address  by  Albert  E.  Pillsbury 64 

Greeley  Honored  in  Colorado 81 

Address  by  Mayor  George  M.  Houston 81 

The  Founding  of  Greeley,  Colorado,  Ralph  Meeker 85 

Address  of  Professor  Oliver  Howard 89 

Address  of  Colonel  Charles  A.  White 96 

Commemorative  Exercises  by  Typographical  Union  No.  6 10 1 

Address  of  the  Chairman,  James  Tole loi 

Horace  Greeley  and  the  Cause  of  Labor,  Albert  J.  Beveridge 104 

Horace  Greeley  as  a  Journalist,  William  H.  McElroy 109 

Letters     119 

The  Dedication  of  the  Monument,  February  3,  1914 125 

Introductory  Remarks   125 

Address  and  Invocation,  Rev.  Dr  F.  M.  Clendenin 126 

President's  Address,  John  I.  D.  Bristol 128 

Horace  Greeley  and  Woman  Sufifrage,  Edith  Dorothea  Bedell 134 

Acknowledgment  on  Behalf  of  the  School  Children  of  Chappaqua, 

Perry    Brevoort    Turner 135 

Address  of  Jacob  Erlich 136 

Address  of  Albert  E.  Henschel 137 

Horace  Greeley,  The  Journalist,  Richard  E.  Day 140 

Horace  Greeley  and  the  Printers,  Marsden  G.  Scott 143 

Original  Manuscripts  of   Horace  Greeley 149 

Studies  and  Reminiscences 155 

Horace  Greeley  as  a  Colonist,  Ralph  Meeker 155 

Horace  Greeley,  Political  and  Social  Leader,  Richard  E.  Day 169 

A  Wonderful  Decade:    Horace  Greeley  —  Orator,  Editor,   National 

Benefactor,  Joseph  E.  King 175 


PAGE 

Newspaper  Comment   179 

Characteristic  Utterances  by  Horace  Greeley 189 

Campaign  Addresses  of   1872 21 1 

Extracts  from  Addresses 217 

Some  Recollections  of  Horace  Greeley.     From  an  interview  of  the  State 

Historian  with  Chester  S.  Lord 225 

Notes  for  a  Lecture  on  Temperance 231 

Horace   Greeley's   Life   Story 237 

Chronology,   181 1-1872    240 

Appendix    245 

Biographical  Material  on  Horace  Greeley 249 

Index    261 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING 
PAGE 

The  Greeley  Memorial  Monument Frontispiece 

Horace  Greeley    (autographed) lo 

Political  Badges  of  the  1872  Campaign 12 

The  Office  and  Memorial  Boulder 14 

Albert  E.  Henschel 18 

The  First  Paper  upon  which  Greeley  Worked 20 

The  Chappaqua  Monument 24 

Home  in  the  Woods,  Concrete  Barn,  Barn  as  Residence 30 

Clendenin  Residence,  General  Stewart  L.  Woodford ^2. 

Horace  Greeley  and  Family 34 

John  I.  D.  Bristol 36 

General  Horatio  C.  Kin? 46 

Facsimile  of  Famous  Bail  Bond 52 

The  Old  White  Coat  and  Candidacy  Reception 56 

A   Favorite    Picture 58 

Birthplace  Marker  64 

Albert  E.  Pillsbury 66 

Greeley  at  Different  Ages 70 

Photograph  of  Greeley  at  Different  Periods 74 

Greeley's  Birthplace  (tailpiece  on) yj 

Ralph  Meeker   86 

James   Tole    102 

House  at  Poultney,  Vt 104 

From  Youth  to  Old  Age 1 12 

Campaign  of   i860 118 

Group  of  Men  who  Voted  for  Greeley 125 

Dr  and  Mrs  Clendenin  and  Daughter 126 

Persons  Prominent  in  Monument  Unveiling 128 

Speakers  at  Monument  Dedication 134 

Jacob  Erlich    136 

William  Ordway  Partridge 140 

Rev.  and  Mrs  Frank  M.  Clendenin 146 

Reproduction  of  Letter  Advocating  Home  Rule 150 

Letter  to  Robinson   150 

Greeley's  First  School  House  (tailpiec°  on) 152 

Another  Robinson  Letter 152 

Advice  to  a  Young  Lady 152 

Nathan  Cook  Meeker 158 

The  First  Issue  of  The  New  Yorker 170 

The  First  Issue  of  The  Tribune 174 

Senator  George  A.  Slater 180 

Senator  Tames  D.  McClelland 184 

The  Lincoln  Peace  Letter igo 

John  Brown  198 

At    Chappaqua    206 


FACING 
PAGE 

The  Favorite  Portrait   212 

At  His  Desk 226 

Greeley,  the  Lecturer 232 

Greeley's  Daughters,  and  Mary  Woodburn 238 

In  Memory  of  the  Chappaqua  Farmer 240 

Victor  Guinzburg 242 

Greeley  Monument    246 

The  Greeley  Statue  in  Front  of  Tribune  Building 248 

The   Guinzburg   Plaque 261 


INTRODUCTION 

It  was  late  in  the  spring  of  1872  that  the  hitherto  united  and 
powerful  Republican  party  had  been  attacked,  not  only  by  foes 
from  without,  but  by  friends  from  within.  It  was  the  year  for 
presidential  election.  The  country  was  still  bleeding,  weary  and 
war-torn  from  the  great  conflict.  Almost  like  a  bolt  from  the  blue 
came  the  announcement  that  at  Cincinnati  a  new  party  had 
been  formed,  and  that  this  segment  of  the  older  party  had  named 
itself  the  "  Liberal  Republican  "  and  had  chosen  as  its  standard- 
bearers,  Horace  Greeley,  for  President,  and  B.  Gratz  Brown,  for 
Vice   President. 

The  writer,  a  youngster  at  the  time,  will  never  forget  the  impres- 
sion made  upon  him  at  the  announcement  of  these  nominations. 
With  members  of  his  family,  he  was  enjoying  his  first  car  ride  on 
the  way  to  Troy  for  a  visit.  When  the  train  reached  Saratoga, 
the  conductor  came  into  the  car  with  a  railroad  telegram  in  his 
hand.  From  every  man  in  the  coach  came  the  question,  "  Who 
was  named  by  the  new  party?"  When  the  name  of  Horace 
Greeley  was  mentioned,  while  not  unexpected,  still  there  was  a  uni- 
versal expression  of  dissatisfaction  from  the  Democrats,  and  of 
disgust  from  the  Republicans.  My  political  ideas  as  a  boy  had 
been  based  on  the  strongly  partisan  but  divergent  and  opposing 
views  of  two  excellent  local  weeklies  at  home,  as  well  as  the  Weekly 
Albany  Argus,  and  the  Saturday  night  issue  of  the  Troy  Times, 
all  of  which  I  read  with  attention,  care  and  resultant  pleasure. 

My  father,  who  had  served  worthily  as  an  officer  and  then  as 
assistant  surgeon,  in  the  famous  (original)  "  Iron  Brigade,"  had 
decided  ideas  as  to  the  general  patriotism  of  Horace  Greeley, 
with  which  I  naturally  became  quite  familiar. 

The  conception  I  then  had  of  Mr  Greeley,  therefore,  based  upon 
the  written  and  spoken  word  of  the  day,  was  that  of  a  rather 
savage  and  eccentric  editor,  whose  course  in  the  Civil  War  had 
left  much  to  be  desired.  Time,  however,  has  since,  as  it  so  often 
does  for  all  of  us,  radically  moderated  my  views  as  to  Greeley's 
honesty  of  purpose  and  his  good  intentions  toward  both  North  and 
South. 

At  that  date,  however,  the  patriotic  blood  in  me  was  as  much 
upset  over  the  nomination  as  were  the  more  practical  spirits  of  the 
men  around  me  in  the  car,  and  my  first  introduction  to  a  presiden- 
tial campaign  came  as  a  thrilling  and  unforgettable  incident,  whose 
intense  interest  other,  and  later,  campaigns  have  of  necessity  lacked. 


12  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Greeley,  of  all  men,  was  the  least  desired  by  the  Democrats  and 
the  last  looked  for  by  the  Republicans,  who  feared  his  trenchant 
pen  and  his  popularity  in  the  South,  gained  through  signing  the 
bail  bond  of  Jelierson  Davis,  the  Ex-prcsident  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America.^  A  few  weeks  later,  on  July  9,  1872,  the  Demo- 
cratic national  convention  assembled  at  Baltimore.  Greeley  and 
Brown  were  rather  perfunctorily  endorsed  by  the  Democrats,  and 
the  national  campaign  was  begun.  Greeley's  acceptance  of  the 
Democratic  nomination  on  July  12th,  as  taken  from  a  local  paper 
in  the  writer's  possession,  shows  not  only  the  spirit  and  sentiment 
of  Greeley  at  the  time,  but  his  diplomacy  in  handling  what  he  him- 
self says  was  an  embarrassing  position.  To  the  committee  of  Dem- 
ocrats who  waited  on  him  in  New  York,  he  spoke  as  follows : 

Mr  Chairman  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  the  Convention: 
I  shall  require  time  to  consider  how  to  reply  fitly  to  the  very 
important  and,  I  need  not  say,  gratifying  communication  that  you 
have  presented  to  me.  It  may  be  that  I  should  present  in  writing 
some  reply  to  this.  However,  as  I  addressed  the  Liberal  convention 
of  Cincinnati  in  a  letter  somewhat  widely  considered,  it  is,  perhaps, 
unnecessary  that  I  should  make  any  formal  reply  to  the  communica- 
tion made,  other  than  to  say  I  accept  your  nomination  and  accept 
gratefully  with  it  the  spirit  in  which  it  has  been  presented.  My 
position  is  one  which  many  would  consider  a  proud  one,  which,  at 
the  same  time  is  embarrassing,  because  it  subjects  me  to  temporary  — 
T  trust  only  temporary  —  misconstruction  on  the  part  of  some  old 
and  lifelong  friends.  I  feel  assured  that  time  only  is  necessary  to 
vindicate  not  only  the  disinterestedness,  but  the  patriotism  of  the 
course  which  I  determined  to  pursue,  which  I  had  determined  on 
long  before  I  had  received  so  much  sympathy  and  support  as  has  so 
unexpectedly  to  me  been  bestowed  upon  me.  I  feel  certain  that  time 
and  in  the  good  providence  of  God  an  opportunity  will  be  afforded 
me  to  show  that  while  you,  in  making  the  nomination,  are  not  less 
Democratic  but  rather  more  democratic  than  you  would  have  been 
in  taking  an  opposite  course,  that  I  am  no  less  thoroughly  and 
earnestly  Republican  than  ever  I  was.     But  these  matters  require 

^  In  an  obituary,  the  National  Quarterly  Review  of  December  1872,  pays 
him  a  glowing  tribute  and  cites  Greeley's  letter  showing  what  sacrifice  the 
signing  of  the  bail  bond  involved.  "  He  had  but  one  great  aim  —  to  promote 
by  voice  and  pen  the  greatest  good  of  the  greatest  number.  .  .  .  American 
slavery,  in  the  days  of  its  power,  had  no  heartier  hater  than  Horace  Greeley, 
no  more  formidable  foe;  but  yet,  when  at  last  it  lay  crushed  with  the 
rebellion  which  it  caused,  there  was  no  inconsistency  in  his  advocacy  of  a 
general  amnesty  toward  its  old  supporters.  .  .  .  And  here  we  are  reminded 
of  that  characteristic  letter,  which  must  ever  remain  a  conspicuous  jewel  in 
the  life  of  this  man:  'My  Friend:  Of  course  I  threw  away  the  senatorship 
in  1866  —  knowing  that  I  did  so  —  and  did  myself  great  pecuniary  harm  in 
1867  by  bailing  Jeff  Davis;  but  suppose  I  hadn't  done  either?  Either  God 
rules  this  world,  or  does  not.     I  believe  He  does.    Yours,  Horace  Greeley.* " 


l-ro»i  cnllectirm  i.'  >/.;/(    //;.'.  iinu  J.  .1.  IInul,n 

POLITICAL    MAD  iKS    OF    THK     1 872    CAMl'AI.iN 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I3 

grave  consideration  before  I  should  make  anything  that  seems  a 
formal  response.  I  am  not  much  accustomed  to  receiving  nomina- 
tions for  the  presidency,  and  can  not  make  response  so  fluently  as 
some  others  might  do. 

I  can  only  say  that  I  hope  some  or  all  of  you,  if  you  can  make  it 
convenient,  will  come  to  my  humble  farmer  home,  not  far  distant 
in  the  country,  where  I  shall  be  glad  to  meet  all  of  you,  and  where 
we  can  converse  more  freely  and  deliberately  than  we  can  here,  and 
where  I  shall  be  glad  to  make  you  welcome  —  well,  to  the  best  the 
farm  affords.  I  hope  that  many  of  you,  all  of  you,  will  be  able  to 
accept  this  invitation,  and  I  now  simply  thank  you,  and  say  farewell.^ 

The  results  of  this  campaign  long  ago  became  history.  Although 
not  a  strong  candidate  politically,  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  who 
with  Henry  W'ilson  opposed  Greeley  and  Brown,  was  extremely 
popular.  The  glamor  of  the  war  still  hung  over  the  country,  and 
v^-hatever  administrative  faults  the  Republican  candidate  was  al- 
leged to  possess,  they  w^ere  hidden  by  the  cloud  of  hero  worship 
which  still  obtained  throughout  the  North.  On  the  other  hand. 
Greeley  was  handicapped  by  the  fact  that  for  over  thirty  years  he 
had  mercilessly  attacked  the  Democratic  party,  sparing  neither  it 
nor  its  greatest  men,  the  lash  of  his  sarcasm  and  the  goad  of  his 
criticism.  And  even  the  fact  that  he  was  its  candidate  did  not  win 
forgiveness,  as  was  shown  when  he  received  a  lesser  number  of 
votes  for  President  in  New  York  State  than  Horatio  Seymour  did 
four  years  before.  The  campaign  was  bitterly  and  violently  car- 
ried on  in  the  press  and  on  the  platform.  Greeley  himself  wrote, 
"  I  hardly  knew  whether  I  w^as  running  for  President  or  the  peni- 
tentiary," while  Grant  said,  "  I  have  been  the  subject  of  abuse  and 
slander  scarcely  ever  equaled  in  political  history." 

October  30th,  after  a  lingering  and  painful  illness.  Mrs  Greeley, 
wife  of  the  candidate,  was  called  to  her  eternal  rest.  Greeley's 
physical  strength  had  been  severely  taxed  in  the  campaign,  and  this 
additional  burden  broke  him  down.  It  needed  but  the  result  of  the 
election,  which  came  on  November  5th  of  that  year,  when  Greeley 
received  66  electoral  votes,  all  from  southern  states,  while  Grant 
received  272,  to  bring  about  a  physical  collapse.  Two  days  after 
the  election  he  published  the  following  card  in  the  Tribune : 

The  undersigned  resumes  the  editorship  of  the  Tribune,  which  he 
relinquished  on  embarking  in  another  line  of  business  six  months 
ago.  Henceforth  it  shall  be  his  endeavor  to  make  this  a  thoroughly 
independent  journal,  treating  all  parties  and  political  movements 
with  judicial  fairness  and  candor,  but  courting  the  favor  and 
deprecating  the  wrath  of  no  one. 

1  Glens  Falls  (N.  Y.)   Republican,  Tuesday,  July  16,  1872. 


14  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

If  he  can  hereafter  say  anything  that  will  tend  to  heartily  unite 
the  whole  American  people  on  the  broad  platform  of  universal 
Amnesty  and  impartial  suffrage,  he  will  gladly  do  so.  For  the 
present,  however,  lie  can  best  commend  that  consummation  by  silence 
and  forbearance.  The  victors  in  our  late  struggle  can  hardly  fail 
to  take  the  whole  subject  of  southern  rights  and  wrongs  into  early 
and  earnest  consideration,  and  to  them,  for  the  present,  he  remits  it. 

Since  he  will  never  again  be  a  candidate  for  any  office,  and  is 
not  in  full  accord  with  either  of  the  great  parties  which  have  hitherto 
divided  the  country,  he  will  be  able  and  will  endeavor  to  give  wider 
and  steadier  regard  to  the  progress  of  science,  industry  and  the 
useful  arts,  than  a  partizan  journal  can  do;  and  he  will  not  be 
provoked  to  indulgence  in  those  bitter  personalities  which  are  the 
recognized  bane  of  journalism.  Sustained  by  a  generous  public,  he 
will  do  his  best  to  make  the  Tribune  a  power  in  the  broader  field 
it  now  contemplates,  as  when  human  freedom  was  imperiled,  it  was 
in  the  arena  of  political  partizanship.^ 

But  his  day  was  done.  His  wife's  death,  the  loss  of  the  presi- 
dency, a  position  which  he  had  coniidently  expected  to  fill,  with 
other  depressing  matters,  brought  about  the  condition  which  caused 
his  death,  within  a  month  of  the  election  of  President  Grant.  Of 
all  the  tragedies  of  politics  which  have  blackened  our  history,  the 
story  of  Horace  Greeley  must  be  considered  the  saddest  and  most 
unnecessary. 

He  should  never  have  been  nominated  to  the  highest  position  in 
our  system  of  government ;  his  friends  should  never  have  allowed 
it.  His  forte  was  the  occupancy  of  the  editorial  chair,  not  that  of 
the  executive,  nor  the  politician. 

With  his  death  came  that  revulsion  of  feeling  so  characteristic  of 
the  American  people,  and  which  so  generally  marks  their  treatment 
of  great  citizens,  after  their  death.  The  very  papers  which  had 
vilified  and  misrepresented  Horace  Greeley,  his  ideals  and  actions, 
now  carried  the  blackest  turned  rules,  and  had  the  most  to  say  in 
favor  of  Horace  Greeley,  not  the  candidate  and  martyr  to  public 
opinion,  but  Horace  Greeley  the  man.  High  on  a  pedestal  of  uni- 
versal public  esteem,  was  erected  the  reputation  of  this  most  won- 
derful product  of  our  American  civilization. 

An  unknown  writer,  in  the  Tribune  Almanac  for  1873,  said  in 
this  connection : 

The  obsequies  of  Mr  Greeley  were  of  a  kind  rarely  accorded  to 
any  save  great  public  characters.  In  the  pulpits  of  New  York  and 
of  other  cities,  upon  the  subsequent  Sunday,  allusions  were  made  to 
the  event.     The  remains  were  taken  to  the  city  hall,  where  they 

1  From  Glens  Falls  Republican,  Tuesday,  November  12,  1872, 


Trtbuiit  ,  i/i.t'r  null 


THE    OFFICE 

From  an  old  print 


MEMORIAL    BOULDER 

Erected  at  Amherst,  N.  H.,  by  that  state 


HORACE    GREELEV    MEMORIAL  15 

were  visited  by  an  immense  concourse  of  the  population.  Upon 
the  day  of  the  funeral  the  streets  were  thronged  by  a  crowd  of 
respectful  spectators,  anxious  to  show  their  respect  for  the  departed. 
Among  those  who  attended  the  funeral  were  the  President  and  Chief 
Justice  of  the  United  States,  several  heads  of  departments,  many 
representatives  and  senators,  and  State  and  city  officials.  The  ser- 
vices were  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr  Chapin,  pastor  of  the  deceased, 
and  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher.  After  these  the  procession 
moved  to  Greenwood,  where  the  remains  of  Mr  Greeley  were 
deposited. 

It  seems  meet  and  right,  after  the  hundred  years  which  complete 
the  cycle  from  his  birth  in  Amherst,  N.  H.,  to  the  erection  of  a 
permanent  memorial  in  Chappaqua,  N.  Y..  where  he  spent  the  final 
years  of  his  life,  following  that  farming  practice  to  which  he  had 
turned  for  a  relaxation  from  editorial  work,  that  the  State  of  his 
adoption,  to  which  and  for  which  he  had  given  of  the  best  there  was 
in  him,  should  now,  as  a  tribute  to  his  memory,  present  this  com- 
pilation describing  his  life,  work  and  achievements,  and  containing 
the  accounts  of  the  observances  of  the  centenary  of  his  birthday, 
in  1911. 

Although  more  than  twoscore  years  have  passed  since  Horace 
Greeley  went  to  his  reward,  wherever  newspaper  men  gather  and 
the  record  of  the  press  is  rehearsed,  his  name  is  still  recognized 
and  esteemed  as  that  of  America's  most  wonderful  and  powerful 
editor. 

In  1846,  almost  at  the  outset  of  his  great  career,  according  to  his 
biographer,  Parton,  Horace  Greeley  penned  these  word'i  wh'ch  may 
well  stand  for  his  eternal  epitaph;  "  If,  on  a  full  and  final  review, 
my  life  and  practice  shall  be  found  UTiworthy  my  principles,  let  due 
infamy  be  heaped  on  my  memory;  but  let  none  be  thereby  led  to 
distrust  the  principles  to  which  I  proved  recreant,  nor  yet  the  ability 
of  some  to  adorn  them  by  a  suitable  life  and  conversation.  To  un- 
erring time  be  all  this  committed." 

In  whatever  Greeley  undertook,  no  one  ever  questioned  his  sin- 
cerity. To  the  side  he  espoused  he  brought  his  extraordinary  abil- 
ity as  a  writer,  his  cogent  power  as  a  thinker  and  his  moral  force  as 
a  public  man.  Although  seldom  successful  in  his  polit'cal  aspira- 
tions, he  nevertheless,  up  to  the  time  of  his  candidacy  for  President, 
wielded  a  greater  influence  through  the  columns  of  the  Tribune 
than  most  other  leaders  of  the  Republican  party  did,  or  have  since 
that  day.  A  strong  advocate  of  abolition,  he  carried  it,  as  he  did 
everything,  to  the  farthest  possible  point.    He  was  an  ardent  pro- 


l6  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

tectionist,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  advocates  of  woman's  rights, 
at  a  time  when  they  were  not  so  popular  as  now. 

Taken  all  in  all,  Horace  Greeley  was  one  of  those  rare  characters 
which  appear  once  in  an  age  and,  like  the  comet  flashing  athwart  the 
sky,  make  a  brilliant  path  across  human  events  and  then  disappear, 
their  exact  like  possibly  never  to  be  seen  again. 

In  commemoration  of  this  great  life,  therefore,  the  Division  of 
History  of  The  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  submits  this 
publication,  in  the  hope  that  another  and  younger  generation  to 
whom  he  is  all  but  unknown  may  learn  from  it  somewhat  of  the 
man  who  in  the  days  of  newspaper  giants,  towered  above  them  all. 

James  Austin  Holden 
Albany,  N.  Y.  State  Historian 

February  j,   iqt^ 


WHY  THE  CENTENARY  WAS  HELD 

BY    JAMES   AUSTIN    HOLDEN 

The  centennial  observance  of  the  birth  of  Horace  Greeley  had  its 
origin  in  a  rather  peculiar  way.  While  browsing  around  in  an  old 
bookshop,  Albert  E.  Henschel,  of  New  York,  well  known  for  his 
many  years'  connection  as  secretary  and  then  counsel  with  Andrew 
H.  Green,  the  famous  philanthropist,  publicist  and  father  of  Greater 
New  York,  found  among  other  books,  a  small  quarto  volume.  This 
work  bore  the  inscription,  "  Oration  at  the  Grave  of  Horace 
Greeley."  The  oration  was  by  L.  M.  Lawson,  and  was  delivered 
at  Greeley's  grave  in  Greenwood  cemetery.  May  30,  1889,  before 
Horace  Greeley  Post,  no.  577,  G.  A.  R.  This  find  took  place  about 
1909. 

The  thing  that  especially  caught  Mr  Henschel's  eye  in  this  patri- 
otic and  eloquent  oration  was  the  statement  that  Greeley  "  was  born 
in  a  hamlet  called  Amherst,  in  New  Hampshire,  in  181 1."  This 
pointed  out  the  near  completion  of  one  hundred  years  since  Greeley 
was  born,  and  inspired  Mr  Henschel  with  the  thought  that  the  cen- 
tenary of  a  man  who  had  wrought  such  immense  good  to  his  coun- 
try and  mankind  should  not  be  allowed  to  pass  into  oblivion  with- 
out due  notice  and  worthy  observance. 

Knowing  that  John  L  D.  Bristol  and  Jacob  Erlich,  both  of  Chap- 
paqua,  Mr  Greeley's  home  for  many  years,  were  greatly  interested 
in  having  a  memorial  to  Mr  Greeley  erected  in  that  place,  Mr  Hen- 
schel called  their  attention  to  the  fact  that  no  more  appropriate  time 
could  be  chosen  than  this  for  bringing  before  the  public,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  approaching  centenary,  the  suitability  of  the  erection 
of  such  a  commemorative  design  as  Mr  Greeley's  friends  had  long 
had  in  mind. 

According  to  Mr  Erlich's  very  valuable  scrapbook,  containing 
the  original  correspondence  in  regard  to  this  matter,  on  May  14, 
1909,  he  wrote  to  Mr  Bristol  suggesting  a  meeting  for  the  purpose 
of  considering  some  testimonial  to  the  character,  and  to  commemo- 
rate the  life,  of  Horace  Greeley.  Mr  Bristol  replied  on  May  17th. 
"  I  very  heartily  reciprocate  your  wishes  in  the  concluding  para- 
graph of  your  letter  as  to  a  conference  to  some  convenient  time  to 
both  of  us.  Your  suggestion  is  in  line  with  progress,  and  notwith- 
standing failures  in  the  past,  success  in  that  direction  may  yet  be 
achieved." 

17 


l8  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

On  May  25th  Mr  Bristol  again  wrote  to  Mr  Erlich  regarding  a 
meeting  to  take  place  at  the  home  of  Mr  Guinzburg  in  Chappaqua, 
on  or  about  June  15th.  This  meeting  was  subsequently  held  and 
was  the  nucleus  for  the  organization  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical 
Society,  from  which  was  appointed  what  was  known  as  the  Horace 
Greeley  memorial  committee,  consisting  of  the  following  persons: 
John  I.  D.  Bristol,  president,  Victor  Guinzburg,  vice  president, 
Jacob  Erlich,  treasurer,  Edwin  Bedell,  secretary,  Morgan  Cowper- 
thwaite,  George  Hunt,  Wilbur  Hyatt,  George  D.  Mackay,  John 
McKesson,  Jr,  Hiram  E.  Manville,  A.  H.  Smith,  L.  Thompson, 
Albert  Turner. 

The  preliminary  work  of  the  committee  was  successfully  accom- 
plished, and  circulars  were  prepared  and  sent  out  calling  the  atten- 
tion of  various  organizations,  schools,  educational  institutions,  and 
prominent  individuals  of  the  United  States  to  this  proposed  memo- 
rial. A  tentative  program  embodying  suggestions  for  the  obser- 
vance of  the  centenary  by  schools  and  educational  institutions  was 
then  drawn  up  and  sent  broadcast  throughout  the  country.  A 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Horace  Greeley,  with  brief  extracts  from  his 
writings  and  biographical  notes,  was  also  written  and  published  by 
Mr  Erlich  and  mailed  with  this  tentative  program. 

Space  will  not  permit  the  insertion  of  the  many  interesting 
letters  which  were  received  by  Mr  Bristol  and  Mr  Erlich  from  the 
heads  of  educational  institutions  throughout  the  United  States,  all 
of  whom  were  heartily  in  accord  with  and  in  favor  of  the  projected 
celebration. 

Among  a  few  of  the  noted  educators  who  concurred  and  gave 
their  heartiest  approval  were  Booker  T.  Washington,  William  H. 
Maxwell,  superintendent  of  schools  of  New  York  City,  President 
Arthur  T.  Hadley  of  Yale,  President  J.  G.  Schurman  of  Cornell, 
Rabbi  Stephen  S.  Wise  of  New  York,  Chancellor  Henry  M.  Mac- 
Cracken  of  New  York  University  and  Samuel  T.  Dutton  of  the 
Teachers  College,  Columbia  University. 

Among  individuals  and  outside  organizations  that  supported  the 
idea  were  the  City  Club  of  New  York,  the  Quoin  Club  of  the  same 
city,  the  New  York  (City)  Historical  Society,  H.  L.  Bridgman, 
the  Arctic  explorer.  Mayor  Gaynor,  John  P.  Mitchel,  then  president 
of  the  board  of  aldermen  and  now  mayor  of  New  York  City,  Mrs 
Bayard  Taylor,  Mayor  George  H.  Plouston  of  the  city  of  Greeley, 
Col.,  and  many  other  distinguished  persons  of  all  grades  and  shades 
of  creed  and  political  opinion.  Among  later  correspondents  who 
approved  were  Hon,  Smith  Ely  and  R.  Fulton  Cutting, 


ALBERT   E.    HENSCHEL 

Originator  of  the  Greeley  memorial  volume,  and  promoter  of  the  centenary 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  19 

Encouragement  was  received  by  the  committee,  in  addition  to 
that  from  outside  sources,  from  members  of  Mr  Greeley's  family. 
Dr  and  Mrs  Frank  M.  Clendenin,  the  latter  of  whom  was  his 
daughter,  Gabrielle,  both  responded  cheerfully  to  suggestions  of 
the  Greeley  memorial  committee  to  facilitate  the  labors  attendant 
upon  the  centenary  and  its  proper  observance;  while  Mr  Greeley's 
granddaughter,  Mrs  Nixola  Greeley  Smith  Ford,  who  has  inherited 
some  of  his  journalistic  genius,  gave  valuable  aid  to  the  com- 
mittee, as  did  her  sister.  Miss  Ida  Greeley  Smith. 

Among  the  letters  received  by  Mr  Erlich  were  two  of  special  in- 
terest, as  they  have  a  distinct  historical  and  biographical  value. 
One  was  from  Colonel  William  Conant  Church,  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  Journal,  who,  under  date  of  January  24,  191 1,  writes: 

In  response  to  your  request,  I  send  two  slips  for  deposit  in  crypt, 
inclosing  $2  in  accordance  with  your  notification.  • 

My  father.  Rev.  Pharcellus  Church  D.  D.,  who  passed  the  closing 
years  of  his  life  at  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  was  some  eighty-two  or  three 
years  ago  a  pastor  in  East  Poultney,  Vt.  Among  members  of  his 
congregation  was  the  editor  of  the  Northern  Spectator,  published 
in  that  town.  One  day  this  gentleman  called  my  father's  attention 
to  a  printer's  boy  he  had  in  his  office  and  asked  that  he  be  allowed 
to  introduce  him.  He  said  he  was  not  much  to  look  at  but  was  a 
remarkable  lad.  His  name  was  Horace  Greeley.  Thus  my  family 
associations  with  Mr  Greeley,  whom  I  knew  well  in  his  later  life, 
dates  back  to  about  the  year  1827  or  1828. 

Another  member  of  my  father's  congregation  at  that  time  was 
George  Jones,  who  subsequently  joined  with  Henry  J.  Raymond 
and  Mr  Wesley  in  establishing  the  New  York  Times.  Thus  it 
appears  that  the  two  men  instrumental  in  establishing  two  of  the 
great  New  York  dailies  originated  in  the  same  little  hamlet  among 
the  hills  of  Vermont. 

The  other  letter,  dated  January  13,  191 1,  was  from  John  R. 
Kendrick,  a  publisher  of  Philadelphia,  who  said : 

I  have  your  favor  of  the  iith,  and  in  reply  would  say  that,  per- 
sonally, my  interest  in  the  memory  of  Horace  Greeley  is  because 
of  the  fact  that  he  was  partly  reared  in  the  same  town  where  my 
father  was  born,  and  the  two  were  playmates  for  a  time.  I  refer 
to  the  village  of  Poultney,  Vt.,  where  Horace  Greeley  learned  the 
printing  trade,  though  he  left  there  in  early  life.  My  father  kept 
up  Mr  Greeley's  acquaintance  for  many  years  after  they  grew  into 
manhood. 

In  a  postscript  to  this  letter  Mr  Kendrick  says,  "  Mr  Greeley 
boarded  with  my  grandfather  in  Poultney  way  back  prior  to  1830." 

The  work  of  the  centenary  was  also  enthusiastically  supported 
and  forwarded  by  Typographical  Union  No.  6,  of  which  Mr  Greeley 


20  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

was  the  original  president,  by  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic 
Preservation  Society,  and  the  Society  for  Ethical  Culture,  all  of 
which  took  formal  action  in  the  direction  of  a  successful  observance. 

September  15,  1910,  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society,  organized 
for  the  objects  shown  in  the  following  extract  from  its  by-laws, 
took  an  active  part  in  the  promotion  of  the  Greeley  memorial  statue : 
"  The  object  of  this  society  is  to  foster  and  perpetuate  all  historical 
data  and  reminiscences  in  connection  with  Westchester  county  and 
especially  of  Chappaqua;  the  preservation  of  historical  papers  and 
documents  relating  to  those  subjects  and  particularly  to  Horace 
Greeley;  the  erection  of  historical  tablets;  and  other  objects  common 
with  societies  of  this  character." 

About  this  time  the  New  York  World,  the  Press,  the  Tribune 
and  the  Times  heartily  approved,  by  editorials  and  in  their  news 
columns,  the  plan  for  erecting  a  statue  to  commemorate  this  cen- 
tenary, the  comments  of  the  World  and  the  Press  being  specially 
strong  in  their  approbation.  In  an  editorial,  which  is  pronounced 
by  Rev.  Dr  Clendenin  in  an  undated  letter  to  Mr  Erlich,  "  one  of 
the  best  summaries  of  his  [Greeley's]  life  that  have  been  written, 
except  his  own  summary  of  his  life  found  in  his  '  Recollections  of 
a  Busy  Life,' ">  The  New  York  World  of  September  17,  1910, 
says,  under  the  caption,  "  Horace  Greeley's  100  Years:  " 

To  the  many  persons  still  living  who  remember  Horace  Greeley 
as  a  daily  figure  in  the  life  of  New  York  the  one  hundredth  anni- 
versary of  his  birth,  which  falls  on  February  3,  19 11,  will  have  a 
special  significance.  By  those  of  a  later  generation  no  less  is  tribute 
due  to  the  memory  of  a  man  who  played  a  part  as  editor,  antislavery 
leader  and  ardent  supporter  of  the  Union  that  made  him  one  of  the 
leading  characters  of  his  century. 

The  moral  force  and  energy  that  Greeley  brought  to  his  work  gave 
him  a  personal  influence  that  today  is  difficult  to  appreciate  under 
changed  conditions.  The  blows  he  struck  for  freedom  when  the 
fight  against  human  slavery  was  a  doubtful  cause  and  most  needed 
recruits  were  the  expression  of  convictions  that  ignored  popular  ill 
will  and  personal  danger.  He  was  a  dangerous  combatant  whose 
conscience  told  him  that  he  was  right  regardless  of  majorities  and 
minorities,  and  time  and  events  have  fully  justified  the  enlightened 
doctrines  that  he  preached  with  unsparing  vehemence. 

Merely  as  the  man  who  brought  alDOUt  the  nomination  of  Lincoln, 
Greeley  would  deserve  a  fitting  monument.  Li  journalism,  in  politics 
and  in  public  life  he  exercised  extraordinary  power,  and  in  the  main 
that  power  was  the  result  of  moral  ideals  that  can  never  die.  It 
is  well  that  steps  should  be  taken  at  once  to  bring  about  a  fitting 
observance  of  the  centennial  of  his  birth. 

1  Page  429. 


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HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  21 

It  was  finally  decided  that  February  3,  4,  and  5,  191 1,  should  be 
set  apart  for  the  observance  of  the  centenary.  Hon.  John  A.  Dix, 
then  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

Albany,  February  3,   igri 

It  is  fitting  that  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Horace 
Greeley  should  be  widely  commemorated.  Sprung  from  the  plain 
people,  Horace  Greeley  was  the  embodiment  of  the  heroic  spirit  of 
genuine  American  democrats.  He  was  a  great  man  in  an  age  of 
great  men,  a  giant  among  giants,  a  journalist-statesman  possessed 
by  a  veritable  passion  for  liberty  and  justice.  He  gave  to  his  country 
and  to  the  world  an  inspiring  example  of  a  staunch  and  brave  patriot, 
who  hated  wrong  of  every  sort,  but  loved  his  fellow  men  as  he  loved 
himself.  Horace  Greeley  planted  the  seed  of  national  reconciliation. 
The  complete  triumph  of  his  principles  and  his  influence  came  after 
his  death,  when  universal  amnesty  was  declared  and  the  states  of 
the  North  and  South  forgot  the  bitter  strife  of  Civil  War  and 
joined  hearts  and  hands  as  brothers  under  a  flag  that  will  float 
forever  as  the  ensign  of  a  free  and  reunited  nation.  It  is  indeed 
well  to  pay  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  son  of  New  England  whose 
life  and  achievements  lend  luster  to  the  history  of  the  Empire  State 
and  of  the  United  States. 

John  A.  Dix 

The  Senate,  on  February  3d,  passed  the  following  resolution, 
offered  by  Senator  Thomas  F.  Grady: 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  New  York  on  this  the 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Horace  Greeley  recalls  his 
great  service  in  behalf  of  the  people  and  institutions  of  this  country 
and  his  commanding  place  among  the  humanitarians  of  his  time. 
That  as  a  lover  of  freedom  to  all.  without  regard  to  race,  religion 
or  color,  that  as  a  patriotic  and  courageous  citizen  devoted  to  the 
National  Union,  that  as  a  man  of  noble  character  and  uncommon 
ability,  whose  great  sympathies  were  ever  with  the  oppressed  and 
struggling,  and  as  the  most  distinguished  of  newspaper  editors  in 
his  day  and  generation,  whose  pen  guided  public  efifort  and  cham- 
pioned fearlessly  every  worthy  cause,  he  left  to  his  country  an 
example  of  sterling  American  citizenship  which  has  been  and  ever 
will  be  an  inspiration  to  the  youth  and  manhood  of  the  land. 

Resolved,  That  out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  Horace  Greeley 
and  to  aflford  its  members  an  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  more 
formal  ceremonies  of  the  day,  the  Senate  now  adjourns  to  meet 
tomorrow  (Saturday)  morning  at  11.45  o'clock. 

The  President  put  the  question  whether  the  Senate  would  agree 
to  said  resolution,  and  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative.  Whereupon, 
the  Senate  adjourned.^ 

1  Extract  from  the  Journal  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  New  York  for 
February  3,  191 1,  v.  i,  p.  102. 


22  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

In  the  Assembly,  Alfred  E.  Smith  said : 

Mr  Speaker,  before  moving  to  adjourn  I  desire  to  state  that  it  is 
fit  and  proper  that  the  Assembly  take  notice  of  the  fact  that  one 
hundred  years  ago  today  in  the  little  town  of  Amherst,  in  the  state 
of  New  Hampshire,  Horace  Greeley  was  born.  Proper  and  fitting 
ceremonies  to  celebrate  that  event  are  taking  place  today  and 
tomorrow,  both  at  his  birthplace  and  at  his  place  of  residence  in 
later  years  in  Westchester  county.  During  his  lifetime,  because  of 
his  great  strength  and  force  of  character,  he  occupied  a  very 
prominent  place  in  our  ci\il  and  political  life.  He  was  the  leader 
of  thought  in  affairs  of  city.  State  and  nation,  at  one  time  the  can- 
didate of  our  party  for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States.  It 
seems,  therefore,  fit  and  proper  that  when  the  Assembly  adjourns 
today  on  this  anniversary  of  his  birthday,  it  adjourn  out  of  respect 
to  his  memory. 

On  motion  of  Mr  A.  E.  Smith,  the  House  adjourned  until  Satur- 
day, February  4th,  at  1 1.30  o'clock  a.  m.^ 

The  board  of  aldermen  of  the  city  of  New  York  adopted  this 
resolution,  which  appears  in  their  minutes,  as  No.  2752,  under  date 
of  January  31,  1911  : 

By  the  vice  chairman : 

Whereas,  The  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Horace 
Greeley  will  occur  on  February  3,  1911,  and  the  recognition  of  this 
event  must  revive  useful  lessons  and  stimulate  our  youth  to  emulate 
tlie  noble  virtues  and  heroic  patriotism  of  a  great  character  in  our 
country's  history,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Horace  Greeley  memorial  committee  is  hereby 
permitted  to  use  the  aldermanic  chamber  on  Friday,  February  3, 
1911,  at  12  o'clock  m.,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  appropriate 
exercises. 

Which  was  adopted. 

The  mayor  of  Greeley,  Colorado,  emphasized  the  local  celebra- 
tion by  issuing  the  following: 

On  February  3,  191 1,  one  hundred  years  will  have  passed  since 
the  birth  of  Horace  Greeley,  and,  while  the  educational  institutions 
of  the  United  States  have  planned  in  a  very  general  way  to  observe 
that  day  as  one  of  great  importance  in  the  history  of  the  nation,  to 
this  community  the  day  should  have  a  peculiar  significance. 

Therefore,  on  February  3d,  will  not  this  community  meditate 
upon  the  character  of  the  man  for  whom  our  city  was  so  appro- 
priately named,  and  dwell  for  a  time  upon  the  simple  elements  of 
his  wholesome  character,  and  while  congratulating  ourselves  upon 
the  heritage  of  a  good  name  and  the  good  traditions  of  our  beginning, 


1  Extract  from  the  Journal  of  the  Assembly  of  the  State  o£  New  York, 
for  February  3,  1911,  v.  i,  p.  185-86. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  23 

may  we  not  receive  a  yet  stronger  regard  for  the  obligations  to  main- 
tain and  improve  that  heritage. 

On  that  day  will  all  public  buildings,  residences  and  business 
houses,  please  display  the  American  tiag  and  as  far  as  possible  place 
in  view  portraits  of  Horace  Greeley. 

George  M.  Houston 

Mayor 
Greeley,  Colorado,  JaJiuary  21,  ipii 

In  their  proper  places  in  this  work  will  be  found  accounts  of  the 
Greeley  memorial  meetings  which  took  place  at  Chappaqua,  at 
Greeley,  Col.,  and  at  the  city  hall,  New  York,  February  3d,  and 
at  the  New  York  Theater  under  the  auspices  of  Typographical 
Union  No.  6,  on  February  5th.  At  the  same  time,  as  heretofore 
stated,  the  various  schools  throughout  the  country  held  special 
exercises  in  honor  of  this  centenary. 

The  chief  result  of  all  this  work  was  the  ultimate  securing  of  a 
statue,  with  a  suitable  pedestal,  as  a  permanent  memorial  at  Chap- 
paqua. The  work  of  designing  and  casting  the  statue  was  intrusted 
to  the  famous  sculptor,  William  Ordway  Partridge.  The  result 
was  extremely  satisfactory  as  a  work  of  art,  and  a  most  lifelike 
representation  in  bronze  of  Mr  Greeley  was  cast  at  the  Roman 
Bronze  Foundry  from  Mr  Partridge's  model.  The  statue  is  about 
9  feet  6  inches  in  height  and  stands  on  a  pedestal  of  Pompton  pink 
granite  about  10  feet  high.  The  architect  of  the  pedestal  was 
William  Henry  Deacy,  of  Ossining  and  New  York  City. 

The  statue  faces  toward  the  little  village  of  Chappaqua.  Sur- 
rounded by  an  ornamental  coping,  forming  a  protective  plaza,  it 
rises  in  the  valley,  the  most  prominent  object  in  sight  from  the 
hilltops  and  the  country  round  about. 

All  the  famous  Greeley  statues  show  him  seated.  Mr  Partridge, 
however,  has  conceived  him  as  standing,  his  chin  slightly  raised,  as 
if  looking  otT  toward  his  farm  lands  in  a  moment  of  relaxation. 
His  right  arm  hangs  easily  by  his  side,  and  in  his  hand  is  a  news- 
paper slightly  crumpled  by  the  firm  grasp.  The  position  is  an  easy 
and  unstrained  one,  and  the  facial  expression  betokens  Greeley's 
well-known  simplicity  and  ideality  of  character. 

At  Chappaqua  on  February  3,  191 1,  on  a  site  given  by  John  I.  D. 
Bristol,  ground  for  the  monument  was  broken  by  the  members  of 
the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society,  at  which  time  took  place  the 
observance  of  the  centenary  which  is  noted  elsewhere. 

A  bill  relating  to  the  statue,  and  making  an  appropriation  of 
$10,000,  was  introduced  in  the  Legislature  at  Albany  by  Hon.  J. 


24  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Mayhevv  Wainwright  in  the  Senate,  March  5,  191 2,  and  by  Hon. 
George  A.  Slater  in  the  Assembly  on  the  6th.  Among  those  who 
supported  and  urged  the  passage  and  executive  approval  of  this 
bill,  were  Judge  Alton  B.  Parker,  Professor  George  W.  Kirchwey 
of  the  Columbia  School  of  Law,  Hon.  W.  G.  McAdoo,  now  Secre- 
tary of  tiie  Treasury,  and  many  other  men  noted  in  statecraft  and 
politics. 

The  bill  passed  both  houses  of  the  Legislature,  but  Governor  Dix 
could  not  see  his  way  clear  to  give  it  his  signature  because  of  the 
then  depleted  condition  of  the  State  treasury,  and  thus  the  bill 
failed  to  become  a  law.  Nothing  daunted,  however,  by  the  lack 
of  the  funds  sought  from  this  legislation,  the  erection  of  the  statue 
was  begun  by  the  committee,  and  was  carried  to  a  successful  end 
by  private  contributions,  donations  and  subscriptions  from  many 
sources. 

Before  the  Legislature  of  1913  Mr  Henschel  finally  appeared  as 
a  representative  of  the  Horace  Greeley  memorial  committee  and 
secured  the  introduction  and  passage  of  the  following  bill : 

An  Act  authorizing  a  report  relative  to  the  unveiling  of  the  monu- 
ment to  be  erected  in  commemoration  of  the  centenary  of  the  birth 
of  Horace  Greeley,  and  making  an  appropriation  therefor. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Nezv  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  i  The  official  known  as  the  State  Historian  and  Chief 
of  the  Division  of  History,  of  the  Department  of  Education,  is 
hereby  authorized  to  prepare  and  have  printed  a  report  to  the  Legis- 
lature relative  to  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  to  be  erected  in 
this  State  in  commemoration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  Horace  Greeley,  together  with  a  record  of  memorial 
exercises  held  in  celel)ration  of  said  event,  and  such  other  matter 
as  said  official  may  deem  suitable  and  appropriate.  Said  report  is 
intended  as  a  tribute  to  Horace  Greeley's  memory  and  to  testify  to 
the  honor  and  esteem  in  which  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York 
hold  the  patriotic  services  and  civic  virtues  of  Horace  Greeley. 

§  2  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  objects  of  this  act,  the 
sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  ($1500),  or  so  much  thereof  as  may 
be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated. 

§  3     This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

This  met  with  legislative  and  executive  approval  and  became 
chapter  643  of  the  Laws  of  1913. 

It  is  in  accord  with  the  provisions  and  mandates  of  this  act  that 
this  publication,  containing  the  accounts  of  the  chief  observances 
of  the  centenary,  as  well  as  the  proceedings  at  the  unveiling  of  the 


William  Ordway  Partridge,  Sc. 


THE    CHAPPAQUA    MONUMENT 

Unveiled  February  3,  191 4 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  25 

monument  and  permanent  memorial  at  Chappaqua,  is  presented  to 
the  public.  An  attempt  is  thus  made  to  secure  as  permanent  a 
record  of  America's  greatest  editor  and  newspaper  man,  with  type 
and  ink  and  paper,  those  essential  accessories  of  his  craft,  as  will 
be  furnished  by  the  colossal  and  imperishable  statue  in  bronze  which, 
so  long  as  grass  grows  and  water  runs,  will  stand  in  the  little 
country  town,  which  he  loved  next  to  his  beloved  Tribune,  as  a 
tribute  born  of  the  affection  and  regard  of  his  countrymen. 

In  the  compilation  of  this  work,  the  editor  has  been  very  for- 
tunate in  having  access  to  the  great  collection  of  Greeley  material 
in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Dr  Clendenin  and  his  wife;  as  well 
as  to  the  collections  of  Jacob  Erlich  and  Albert  E.  Henschel,  who 
have  spent  years  and  considerable  sums  of  money  in  gathering  a 
great  amount  of  Greeleyana  and  data  referring  to  the  subject  of 
this  memorial. 

Owing  to  the  fire  which  several  years  ago  destroyed  Air  Greeley's 
house  at  Chappaqua,  with  its  large  amount  of  manuscripts,  letters 
and  papers,  a  definitive  history  of  Horace  Greeley  can  never  be 
written,  at  least  from  the  original  sources.  Relying  as  we  have 
had  to  do,  then,  on  the  printed  records,  it  is  believed  that  this  work 
will  furnish  to  the  world  as  near  an  approach  to  a  final  life  of  the 
great  editor  as  is  likely  to  be  presented,  at  least  to  this  generation. 


THE  STATUE  AT  CHAPPAQUA 
INAUGURATED 


THE  STATUE   AT   CHAPPAQUA  INAUGURATED 
FEBRUARY  3,  191 1 

Though  many  observances  of  the  centenary  of  Horace  Greeley's 
natal  day  were  held  throughout  the  country,  there  probably  was 
not  one  that  could  evoke  a  keener  interest  than  the  exercises  at 
Chappaqua.  There,  in  that  rural  scillcment,  the  chosen  home  of 
Florace  Greeley,  in  the  concrete  barn  built  by  him  and  since  trans- 
formed into  a  dwelling,  lives  his  only  surviving  daughter,  Gabrielle, 
with  her  husband,  the  Rev.  Dr  Frank  ^l.  Clendcnin,  and  their 
daughter,  Gabrielle. 

Here  are  clustered  their  Lares  and  Penates.  In  this  home,  suit- 
ably decorated,  were  assembled  and  exhibited  the  chief  relics  that 
were  to  remind  the  neighbors  and  lovers  of  Greeley,  of  old  asso- 
ciations, and  of  the  unflagging  work  that  he  had  done  for  his 
country  and  for  humanity  at  large. 

The  lower  floor  of  the  house  was  filled  with  examples  of  his 
handwriting.  Many  of  these  manuscripts  belong  to  Doctor  and  Mrs 
Clendenin,  but  many  others  were  lent  by  friends  and  members  of 
the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society. 

There  were  two  large  scrapbooks  filled  with  manuscripts  of  his 
political  writings,  among  them,  one  of  a  lecture  on  Lincoln  written 
just  before  Mr  Greeley's  death  and  which  was  never  delivered. 
Jacob  Erlich  lent  the  manuscript  of  Mr  Greeley's  work  on  political 
economy,  a  facsimile  of  Jefferson  Davis's  bail  bond  signed  by  Mr 
Greeley,  and  other  Greeley  mementos.  There  was  the  correspond- 
ence between  Greeley  and  Ezra  Haight  on  the  purchase  of  the  farm 
at  Chappaqua.  There  were  several  copies  of  the  "  Clay  Tribune," 
published  by  Greeley  and  McElrath,  which  preceded  the  Tribune 
of  today,  and  one  of  the  papers  on  which  the  future  editor  did  his 
work  in  1826.  Before  the  fireplace  downstairs  stood  the  sentinel 
armchair  that  he  had  used  from  the  time  he  was  nineteen  years  old, 
while  in  a  corner  of  the  room  was  the  desk  he  used  for  the  last  ten 
years  of  his  newspaper  life,  and  across  from  it  was  the  flat-topped 
table  that  preceded  the  standing  desk.  There  were  the  rare  first 
copies  of  the  various  journals  he  published  and  edited.  Among 
the  many  other  objects  of  interest  were  the  marble  bust  made  of 
Greeley  when  he  was  but  thirty  years  old,  by  Hart,  the  famous 
Kentucky  sculptor,  the  cradle  in  which  he  was  rocked,  the  case  at 
which  he  set  type,  in  Erie,  the  copy  of  the  first  newspaper  which 
he  himself  set  up  and  in  which  he  stuck  the  type  for  articles  of  his 

29 


30  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

own  composition,  the  flag  that  waved  over  the  Tribune  building 
during  the  Civil  War,  and  the  resolutions  of  the  board  of  aldermen 
of  the  city  of  New  York  as  well  as  of  the  city  of  Detroit.  The 
New  York  resolutions  are  those  referred  to  in  a  letter  by  Mayor 
Havemeyer  to  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  requesting  him  to  prepare  the 
presentation  address  on  tendering  the  engrossed  resolutions  to  Mr 
Greeley's  family.  There  were  many  photographs  and  engravings 
descriptive  of  his  life,  a  number  of  his  published  works,  and  the  oil 
painting  of  Greeley's  son,  Arthur,  whose  pet  name  was  "  Picky  " 
and  whose  early  death  wrought  a  deep  and  permanent  sorrow  into 
Mr  Greeley's  soul. 

Before  the  exercises  of  the  day  there  was  the  regular  annual 
meeting  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society,  held  always  on  the 
anniversary  of  Mr  Greeley's  birth. 

There  were  present  among  others,  besides  the  members  of  the 
society  and  family,  General  Stewart  L.  Woodford,  Walter  L.  Mc- 
Corkle,  vice  president  of  the  Southern  Society  of  New  York,  James 
Wood,  Daniel  P.  Hays,  and  General  Edwin  A.  Merritt,  then  84 
years  old.  The  following  attended  as  delegates  from  Typographical 
Union  No.  6:  James  Tole,  C.  M.  Maxwell,  William  F.  Wetzel,  John 
F.  Crossland,  C.  D.  Dumas,  James  H.  Dahm,  S.  W.  Gamble,  James 
P.  Farrell  and  James  D.  Kennedy. 

The  following  gentlemen  who  were  present,  declared  that  they 
had  voted  the  Greeley  ticket  in  the  presidential  campaign  of  1872: 
Charles  Haines,  lawyer,  of  Bedford;  D.  Cox,  retired,  of  Hawthorne; 
J.  J.  Birdsall,  of  White  Plains;  George  Hunt,  merchant,  Chappaqua; 
W.  L  Halstead,  merchant,  Mount  Kisco ;  J.  D.  Bailey,  builder, 
Chappaqua;  Theodore  Carpenter,  retired.  Mount  Kisco;  A.  J. 
Quimby,  retired,  Chappaqua;  Elliot  H.  See,  Pleasantville;  W.  H. 
Fisher,  retired,  Chappaqua ;  Edwin  Bedell,  editor  of  the  Chappaqua 
Item;  General  E.  A.  Merritt;  Moses  Wanzer  and  D.  Rousseau. 
These  old  Greeley  voters  were  photographed  later  in  the  day. 

Among  Mr  Greeley's  relatives  were  Mrs  Andrew  W.  Ford,  who 
was  Nixola  Greeley  Smith,  and  Miss  Ida  Greeley  Smith,  his  grand- 
daughters; Dr  Horace  Greeley,  of  the  Brooklyn  health  department, 
a  grandson;  Mrs  Fanny  Storey,  a  grandniece,  and' Miss  Gabrielle 
Clendenin,  another  granddaughter. 

Secretary  Bedell  read  letters  and  telegrams  from  those  who  could 
not  be  present,  including  the  following  from  Ex-mayor  Seth  Low: 

When  I  was  in  Clarksburg,  W.  Va.,  a  little  while  ago,  I  was  shown 
the  original  indictment  which  had  been  found  there  against  Horace 
Greeley,  with  a  copy  of  the  New  York  Tribune  upon  which  the 


From  an  old  [riril  in  " K 

"the    home    IX    THE    WOODS 

Destroyed  by  fire  in  1877 


From  an  old  print 

HIS    CONCRETE    liARX 

One  of  the  first  of  the  concrete  constructions.  Made 
into  a  residence  after  the  burning  of  "Home  in 
the  Woods" 


THE    BARX    AS    A    RKSIDEXCE 

Transformed   from    the  concrete  structure  into  the  Clendenin 
residence 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  3I 

indictment  was  found,  for  inciting  insurrection  among  the  slaves. 
Times  have  so  changed  that  it  is  hard  for  any  one  now  to  think 
himself  back  into  a  time  when  slavery  existed  in  the  United  States. 
We  do  well  now  to  honor,  whenever  we  can,  the  memory  of  the  brave 
men  who  wrote  and  suffered  in  the  cause  of  human  freedom  when 
it  was  a  hard  and  unpopular  thing  to  do.  Horace  Greeley  was  one 
of  those  doughty  champions,  and  I  am  glad  his  memory  is  kept  green 
in  the  place  [in  which]  he  had  his  home  for  so  many  years. 

Dr  Frank  M.  Clendenin  opened  with  prayer,  after  which  Mr 
John  I.  D.  Bristol,  president  of  the  society,  introduced  the  treasurer, 
Mr  Jacob  Erlich,  as  the  first  speaker. 


ADDRESS  OF  JACOB  ERLICH 

We  are  gathered  here  today  to  honor  and  help  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  one  of  America's  illustrious  men.  We  may  well  rejoice 
that  there  lived  among  us  a  man  so  simple,  so  great,  so  noble  as 
Horace  Greeley. 

A  born  genius,  early  manifesting  signs  of  extraordinary  intellect, 
with  little  schooling,  by  great  industry  and  perseverance,  and  not- 
withstanding endless  hardships,  he  lifted  himself  till  he  held  pre- 
eminent rank  among  the  public  men  of  his  time.  An  uncompromis- 
ing leader  for  his  ideals,  he  was  the  militant  champion  of  purity, 
honesty,  patriotism  and  justice. 

Those  nearest  him,  loved  and  honored  him  most. 

Slavery  found  in  Horace  Greeley  its  mightiest  and  most  deadly 
foe.  By  years  of  reiteration  in  the  Tribune,  which  he  founded  — 
the  most  powerful  organ  of  public  opinion  of  the  time  —  he  exposed 
the  giant  wrongs  of  human  servitude.  He  laid  the  foundation  for 
the  great  upheaval  of  public  opinion  which  gave  to  the  Union  cause 
the  spirit  and  the  logic  by  which  its  battles  were  won. 

Horace  Greeley  knew  the  condition  and  needs  of  his  country, 
as  few  men  knew  them.  His  voice  was  heard,  his  influence  felt, 
in  every  part  of  the  Union.  That  the  noble  lessons  of  such  a  life 
might  find  abundant  fruitage  in  coming  generations,  we  have  caused 
appropriate  exercises  to  be  held  in  the  public  schools  of  the  country. 

As  time  goes  on,  Horace  Greeley  will  be  better  known,  appre- 
ciated and  judged  by  his  achievement. 

In  closing,  I  can  do  no  better  than  to  quote  the  words  of  that 
distinguished  jurist  and  statesman,  whom  we  have  with  us  today. 
General  Stewart  L.  Woodford,  while  presiding  over  the  New  York 
Electoral  College  in  1872.     On  this  occasion,  referring  to  the  un- 


32  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

timely  death  of  Mr  Greeley,  who  had  been  the  unsuccessful  candi- 
date for  the  presidency,  General  Woodford  said : 

We  gather  under  the  shadow  of  great  sorrow,  for  he  who  was 
the  competitor  of  the  successful  candidate  for  the  presidency  lies 
silent  forever  in  death.  Tlie  day  which  shall  record  the  election  of 
the  one,  will  witness  the  burial  of  the  other.  This  victory  of  the 
approval  of  the  nation  which  has  come  to  the  one  living,  this  greater 
victory,  which  has  come  to  tiie  other,  ot  peaceful  eiUrance  into  the 
rest  of  Heaven,  make  this  gathering  forever  memorable. 

To  him  who  shall  continue  our  President;  to  us  who  shall  give 
the  formal  vote  for  his  reelection ;  to  all  the  children  of  the  RepubUc, 
the  life  and  memory  of  Horace  Greeley  shall  remain  as  an  inspiration 
to  kindlier,  broader  patriotism,  to  more  faithful  performance  of  duty. 
Thus  comes  from  the  grave  the  higher  call  to  nobler  living. 

ADDRESS  OF  GENERAL  STEWART  L.  WOODFORD 

General  Woodford,  in  memories  of  Mr  Greeley,  brought  tears 
to  the  eyes  of  many  as  he  spoke  feelingly  of  his  friend.  The  general 
told  of  first  knowing  Mr  Greeley  in  the  editorial  rooms  of  the 
Tribune  in  1854  and  1856. 

"  He  was  the  power  on  the  Tribune,"  said  General  Woodford, 
"  but  yet  most  gracious  and  kind  to  the  youngsters  who  were 
permitted  to  work  for  the  paper.  He  was  a  leader  of  the  press 
and  the  Republican  party,  whose  name,  I  think,  he  suggested,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1856,  when  Fremont  ran  for  President,  he  would 
often  go  in  the  evenings  from  his  office  to  some  ward  meeting, 
where  in  his  quaint  and  simple  language  he  did  so  much  to  enforce 
his  views  on  the  voters. 

"  Mr  Greeley  was  a  delegate  from  Oregon  to  the  Republican 
convention  in  i860,  and  I  was  a  delegate  from  the  Fairfield  district 
of  Connecticut.  In  those  days  delegates  did  not  have  to  live  in  the 
states  they  represented.  I  have  lived  long  enough  to  thank  God 
for  the  divine  work  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  in  that  convention 
it  was  Horace  Greeley,  more  than  any  other  man,  who  forced  the 
nomination  of  Lincoln.  His  nomination  was  due  to  the  courage 
and  domination  of  Horace  Greeley. 

"  Mr  Greeley's  work  is  done,  but  his  influence  will  abide  while 
this  nation  lives.  His  work  for  the  slaves,  clean  politics  and 
organized  labor  will  ever  live.  His  work  for  sound  currency  no 
banker  can  ever  forget.  His  words  were  '  The  way  to  resume  is 
to  resume.' 

"  He  lived  a  life  that  was  devoted  to  charity,  to  brotherhood  of 
man,  to  labor,  to  the  development  of  national  resources  and  to  the 
strengthening  of  the  National  Union.     His  was  a  great  life. 


THi:    (I  INDIMX    RESIDENCE 

At  Chappaqua,  Greeley's  cradle  on  the  hearth,  and  picture 
over  mantel 


GENERAL    STEWART    I..    WOODFORD 

Addressing  gathering  in  parlor,   Greeley  homestead  at   Chappaqua,   birth 
centenary  exercises,  February  3,  1911 


HORACE    GREELEY    ^lEMORIAL  33 

"  The  greatest  thing  Mr  Greeley  ever  (Hd  was  wlien  he  went  on 
the  bail  bond  of  Jetiferson  Davis,  which  was  a  great  pledge  of 
brotherhood  that  secured  the  unity  of  the  nation." 

Rev.  Dr  Clendenin  then  read  the  following  paper  prepared  by 
Mrs  Clendenin : 

A  PERSONAL  IMPRESSION  OF  HORACE  GREELEY 
:mrs  c.AnKiKLLi-:  grkeli^v  clendenin 

l'"riday  evening  was  always  the  brightest  and  happiest  of  the 
whdle  week  at  Gliappa(|ua,  for  that  was  sure  to  bring  my  dear  father 
home.  The  whole  house  was  alive  with  happy  preparation.  The 
\  er\-  i>ine  trees  ])ointed  tiny  little  fingers  down  the  wild  woody 
road  to  show  the  way  he  was  coming.  How  eagerly  1  remember 
watching  a  certain  little  pink  gingham  frock  being  ironed  in  which 
1  was  to  go  and  meet  him.  1  used  to  sit  between  two  patriarchal 
oak  trees  till  in  the  distance  the  familiar  figure  was  seen,  slightly 
bent  forward,  his  arms  loaded  with  good  things,  entering  the  gate; 
and  then  I  would  fly  to  meet  him.  How  my  little  arm  used  to  crook 
itself  up  and  take  as  much  of  his  load  as  it  could,  and  how  somehow 
the  burden  was  always  lifted  just  a  little  higher,  so  my  help  was 
only  an  eiupty  f(M-m.  We  used  often  on  these  walks  to  talk  of  a 
wonderful  pony  he  was  looking  for  and  which  arrived,  sleek  and 
round,  and  mischievous,  one  birthday  morning. 

The  first  thing  when  we  reached  the  house  was  to  seek  mother's 
room  where  the  dear  inmate  for  years  struggled  with  a  terrible 
cough,  h'rom  there,  carried  in  triumph  on  his  back,  I  would  ride 
down  to  dinner.  After  dinner,  sitting  around  the  table,  he  would 
call  for  Dana's  book  of  poetry  and  read  to  us  many  of  his  favorites. 
I  look  now  at  the  familiar  lines  and  smile  to  think  how  incompre- 
hensible they  must  have  been  to  my  childish  mind,  and  yet  I  loved 
the  reading,  and  thought  like  the  wise  men  of  today,  I  "  knew  it  all." 
I  used  frequently  to  pipe  up  at  those  happy  times  "  Papa,  please 
tell  us  a  '  nanydote.'  "  One  of  the  anecdotes  still  remains  in  my 
mind,  of  a  certain  sea  captain  who  traveling  for  his  company  used 
to  bring  in  very  long  bills.  One  of  the  charges  they  especially 
objected  to  was  three  pounds  for  "  a  cocked  hat  "  to  be  worn  on  a 
visit  to  an  Indian  prince.  The  next  time  the  accounts  were  more 
wisely  itemized,  and  they  exjiressed  themselves  as  perfectly  satisfied. 
"  Ah,"  he  said,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  "  the  cocked  hat's  there, 
but  you  don't  see  it." 


34  THE    UNIVERSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    XEW    YORK 

At  one  of  tlic  home  gatlicriiigs  some  one,  fearing  1  was  being 
petted  too  much,  said:     "  Mr  Greeley,  don't  Hatter  the  child." 

"  But,"  i  answered  in  his  defense,  "  Pussy  just  loves  flatty,"  and 
if  gentleness  and  a  great  lo\ing  heart  injure  anyone,  he  would  have 
given  nie  some  excuse  for  being  spoiled. 

I  remember  one  incident  of  his  indulgence.  One  day  he  brought 
home  an  umbrella  with  a  wooden  dog's  head  as  a  handle.  My 
covetous  little  heart  proceeded  to  set  itself  upon  that  canine  effigy. 
In  vain  papa  oft'eretl  me  a  whole  dog,  but  1  pleaded  that  no  other 
head  in  the  world  would  be  like  that  head,  and  the  result  was  he 
sawed  it  off  and  went  back  to  town  with  a  handleless  umbrella. 

I  can  not  recall  my  father  speaking  a  single  harsh  or  unkind  word 
to  either  my  dear  sister  or  myself,  but  1  can  recall  today  an  occasion 
in  which  1  longed  to  give  myself  a  good  shaking.  Papa  was  en- 
grossed in  his  paper,  and  no  word  or  inquiry  of  mine  could  rouse 
him.  So,  to  get  his  attention  at  any  price,  I  began  tearing  away 
little  bits  of  his  newspaper.  I  must  have  reached  at  length  the 
article  he  was  reading,  for  gently  rising,  he  lifted  me  by  my  arms 
(for  my  legs  I  made  instantly  limp)  and  so  deposited  me  outside 
his  locked  door  without  a  word.  Howls  of  indignation  from  me 
brought  anxious  inquiries  from  a  relative,  but  he  made  no  explana- 
tion ;  neither  did  I.     My  humiliation  was  too  great  at  being  ignored. 

The  faces  of  people  are  children's  books,  from  which  they  read 
searchingly.  Scanning  earnestly  his  dear  face,  so  full  of  the  sun- 
shine of  purity,  so  bright  with  humor  and  wisdom,  a  deep  im- 
pression, never  to  be  effaced,  was  made  tipon  me  at  the  terrible 
sorrow  I  saw  written  there  when  he  came  home  and  told  of 
Abraham  Lincoln's  assassination.  Never  again  did  I  see  that  look 
till  the  one  he  loved  to  call  "  Mother  "  passed  away.  Then  it  settled 
down  with  a  grief  from  which  he  never  roused  himself.  I  never 
could  trace  any  signs  of  disappointment  at  the  presidential  cam- 
paign going  against  him,  but  rather  a  quiet  and  humorous  philos- 
ophy. I  think  his  main  regret  would  have  been  for  those  faithful 
friends  who  had  followed  a  lost  cause.  The  Saturday  before 
mother's  death  he  walked  with  me  to  Saint  Mary's  School,  where 
he  had  placed  me  a  few  days  before.  Little  did  I  think  as  he  left 
me  at  the  door,  we  should  meet  on  Monday  at  the  side  of  that 
dear  mother  from  whose  face  death  had  smoothed  the  cares  and 
sufferings  of  years.  From  that  time  he  could  not  sleep,  and  he 
seemed  not  to  care  to  eat.  The  mainspring  of  his  home  had  broken. 
The  one  who.  though  sick  unto  death  for  years,  had  been  such  a 
force  and   strength   at   home,   holding  up   the   noblest   and   highest 


HORACE    GREELEV    MEMORIAL  35 

examples  to  her  children,  teaching  us  that  truth  must  be  followed 
at  any  cost  yet  reaching  down  in  womanly  tenderness  to  the  smallest 
animal,  or  going  out  in  the  snow,  though  sick  herself,  to  protect 
some  poor  drunken  man  whom  the  boys  were  pelting,  telling  me 
never  to  laugh  at  such  a  one,  for  they  were  suffering  from  a  terrible 
disease;  yes,  the  look  he  had  worn  when  Lincoln  was  killed  came 
back  to  stay.  The  heart  that  could  love  and  work  for  others  could 
break  when  the  highly-strung  chords  were  strained  too  far.  I 
have  had  to  listen  to  long  explanations  about  his  disappointed  am- 
bition. To  die  or  live  for  the  good  of  his  laboring  brothers  and 
sisters  was  the  oiily  ambition  I  could  ever  discover  in  that  great 
loving  heart.  He  had  no  tears  to  shed  at  his  wife's  funeral.  But 
as  he  turned  away  from  the  simple  plot  at  Greenwood  he  said  : 
"  That  vault  will  be  opened  for  me  in  less  than  a  month."  And  it 
was  not  the  first  of  his  prophecies  to  be  sadly  fulfilled. 

Years  afterwards  a  society  man  told  me  how  one  evening,  near 
midnight,  when  Delmonico's  was  filled  with  gay  pleasure-seekers, 
he  caught  sight  for  one  moment,  in  the  light  which  streamed  across 
the  pavement  from  the  doorway,  of  an  old  man  in  a  white  coat 
carrying  the  baskets  of  two  little  ragged  girls,  evidently  taking  them 
to  a  place  of  shelter  from  the  storm.  So  do  I  love  to  picture  him 
again.  The  world  of  the  prosperous  and  thoughtless  was  little 
affected  by  his  life,  but  as  he  fades  into  the  darkness  of  the  night 
of  oblivion,  I  like  to  think  of  him  as  one  who  desired  ever  to  bring 
the  homeless  and  wretched  to  shelter,  and  to  carry  burdens  for  them. 

ADDRESS  OF  DANIEL  P.  HAYS 

Daniel  P.  Hays,  who  had  been  a  neighbor  of  Mr  Greeley  for 
many  years,  told  of  first  meeting  him  at  the  farm  of  Abram  J. 
Quinby,  where  Mr  Greeley  spent  his  summers  before  buying  the 
farm  that  was  afterward  his  home. 

"  I  remember  him  as  a  man  of  a  kind  and  loving  nature,  who  felt 
strongly  the  brotherhood  of  man.  lie  stands  out  in  my  memory 
as  a  character  almost  divine,  and  in  what  he  did  for  humanity  he 
was  greater  than  presidents  or  kings. 

"  In  what  he  contrilnited  to  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and 
the  freeing  of  the  slaves  he  was  one  of  the  greatest  men  the  country 
has  ever  produced.  He  did  not  sign  his  name  to  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation,  but  he  labored  for  it  for  years,  and  his  work  was 
one  of  the  great  contributory  causes  that  made  that  proclamation 
possible. 


36  THE    UNIN'KRSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

"  He  was  a  national  and  worlcl-wicie  character  and  yet  was  a 
friend  of  the  humblest." 

Air  James  Wood  and  (jeneral  Edwin  A.  Merritt  gave  the  assem- 
blage their  personal  reminiscences  of  Horace  Greeley. 

The  exercises  were  interspersed  with  appropriate  music  rendered 
by  the  St  Thomas  Mandolin  Club  of  Pleasantville,  consisting  cl 
Miss  Beatrice  Griltin,  piano,  and  mandolin  players  as  follows:  the 
Misses  Anna  C.  Dicket,  Margaret  B.  Moehmer,  Mary  V.  McCormac, 
Helen  R.  Moore,  Elma  C.  Connor,  Mary  A.  McCarthy,  Katharine 
M.  McCarthy  and  Elsa  A.  Doll. 

Later  the  ladies  of  Chai)i)a(iua  served  tea  to  the  visitors;  among 
them  were  Mrs  Bristol,  Mrs  Turner,  Mrs  McKesson,  Mrs  Erlich, 
Mrs  Busselle,  Mrs  Guinzburg.  Mrs  Mackay  and  Mrs  Cowperth- 
waite. 

After  the  reception  the  guests  were  asked  to  meet  at  the  west 
side  of  the  railway  station,  near  the  old  Pines  Bridge  road,  where 
Mrs  Clcndenin  had  chosen  the  spot  for  the  erection  of  a  monument 
to  her  father.  It  is  near  the  route  taken  by  Washington's  retreating 
troops  after  the  defeat  at  White  Plains. 

After  the  group  of  Greeley  voters  had  been  photographed  and 
some  time  spent  in  examining  the  Greeley  relics,  the  assemblage 
proceeded  to  the  site  chosen  for  the  Greeley  statue,  where  the  loca- 
tion had  been  railed  ofif  and  a  small  platform  laid.  The  populace 
of  neighboring  Westchester  villages  was  out  in  force  to  witness  the 
interesting  ceremonies.     Mr  Bristol  then  spoke  as  follows : 

ADDRESS  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  I.  D.  BRISTOL 

Tradition  has  given  to  some  localities  of  our  country  the  designa- 
tion- of  hallowed  ground.  This  monumental  square  should  be  in- 
cluded. Here  Washington's  army  passed,  after  the  defeat  at  the 
battle  of  White  Plains.  No  trappings  of  modern  warfare  —  the 
gaudy  uniform,  the  waving  of  regimental  banners,  the  martial 
strains  of  military  bands,  or  any  of  the  paraphernalia  characteristic 
of  armies  —  shared  that  long  and  weary  retreat  of  hardship  and 
suffering.  On  this  same  old  Revolutionary  Pines  Bridge  road,  but 
a  little  way  farther  on,  still  stands  the  Quaker  meeting  house  of 
Chappa(iua.  There  Washington  hailed  with  his  wounded.  The 
church  became  a  hospital,  its  pews  the  cots  of  the  wounded,  its 
prayers  the  last  feeble  words  of  dying  patriots;  and  yet,  amid  all 
these  terrible  circumstances  of  war,  from  which  a  fatal  depression, 
despondency  and  discouragement  could  well  have  had  their  birth. 


JOHN    I.    D.    BRISTOL 

President  Chappaqua  Historical  Society.     To  his  efforts  are  due  the  statue 
and  permanent  memorial  to  Greeley  at  Chappaqua 


HORACE    GREKI.EV    MEMORIAL  37 

the  sublime  love  of  country  remained,  and  the  struggle  for  liberty 
and  independence  went  on  to  a  grandly  successful  close.  What  a 
lesson  all  of  this  for  every  lover  of  our  wonderful  Commonwealth. 

Through  every  privation,  and  through  suffering  that  can  never 
be  told,  the  men  of  the  Revolution  were  the  creators  of  our  country. 
With  the  dawn  of  its  second  century,  that  nation's  existence  was 
threatened.  Among  the  many  illustrious  names  of  its  saviors  that 
of  Horace  Greeley  will  ever  be  associated. 

And  it  is  well,  indeed,  that  here  in  Chappaqua,  with  all  the  recol- 
lections that  cluster  about  his  name,  where  he  had  his  home  for  so 
many  years,  and  in  this  historic  valley  that  he  loved ;  and  where, 
amid  adjacent  parks  to  be  dressed  in  the  living  beauty  of  the 
landscaping  art,  nature  can  well  be  said  to  slumber  upon  a  bed  of 
scenic  loveliness  —  we  erect  a  monument  to  the  man  whose  memory 
we  revere. 

During  the  later  years  of  his  life,  when  he  had  l)ecome  a  mighty 
power  in  the  progression  of  the  nation's  greatness,  his  preeminence, 
above  and  beyond  all  misrepresentation,  detraction,  ridicule,  and 
tlie  ever  slow-growing  faith  to  newer  and  better  things,  was  every- 
where conceded.  He  grew  into  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen  not  at 
a  bound  but  by  degrees. 

The  ages  are  ages  of  slow  transition  ;  but  there  are  times  when 
in  the  culmination  of  mighty  events  evolution  moves  faster  —  when 
men  see  clearer — when  e\en  the  conscience  of  a  great  nation  is 
suddenly  enlightened,  and  the  long-buried  right  looms  up  among 
the  minds  of  its  people  as  the  sudden  flash  from  a  beacon  light 
sheds  its  clear  beams  over  the  waves  and  mists  of  a  dangerous  coast. 
The  writings  of  Horace  Greeley  were  the  beacon  rays  of  encourag- 
ing truth  that  reached  the  farmer  boy  when  the  labors  of  the  day 
were  over,  as  well  as  the  college  student  in  the  hours  of  his  studies. 

Horace  Greeley  appealed  to  no  limited  class;  but,  as  his  mind 
was  above  all  creeds  and  all  party  platforms,  the  manifestations  of 
his  mentality  were  for  all  normal  men  without  distinction  of  race 
or  condition.  There  is  a  simple  explanation  in  all  of  this:  he  lived 
through  his  higher  faculties  and  knew  not  the  selfishness  and  the 
perverted  ego  that  ever  lessen  innate  greatness.  Such  men  are  of 
a  strength  and  stature  to  seize  the  torch  of  truth  that  occasionally 
flashes  into  being  among  humanity's  millions,  and  shed  its  rays  to 
the  inner  consciousness  of  every  mind  capable  of  thought.  The 
underlying  cause  of  the  greatness  of  Horace  Greeley  lay  in  his 
dignity  of  character,  his  simplicity,  kindliness,  courage,  steadfast- 
ness, his  wonderful  love  of  right,  his  splendid  benevolence,  and  his 


38  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

universal  love  for  his  fellownien.  To  him  Chappaqua  and  the 
nation  this  day  dedicate  the  monument  that  is  to  arise  upon  this 
historic  spot ;  and  it  would  be  well  for  future  ages  that  it  bear  the 
inscription : 

TO 

HORACE   GREELEY 

THE  MOST  EXALTED  PRIEST  IN  THE  CHURCH 

OF  THE 

IIROTIIEUHOOI)   OF    MAN 

Mr  G.  D.  Mackay  followed,  and  at  the  close  of  his  happy  remarks 
he  displayed  a  silvered  spade  with  ebony  handle,  upon  which  was 
an  engraved  i)late,  which  he  presented  to  Mrs  Gabrielle  Greeley 
Clendenin  and  conducted  her  within  the  rail.  Mrs  Clendenin  then 
took  the  spade  and  broke  the  ground  for  the  site  of  the  statue. 

GREETINGS 

The  following  telegram  from  Amherst,  N.  H.,  was  read: 

Old  Amherst,  which  gave  him  birth,  celebrates  with  you,  who 
gave  a  home,  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  Greeley's  birth,  and 
extends  to  you  most  cordial  greetings  and  desires  for  delightful  and 
inspiring  exercises. 

The  following  reply  was  telegraphed  to  Amherst: 

Your  kindly  greetings  regarding  centenary  exercises  here  to  the 
man  who  made  Lincoln  President,  greatly  appreciated  and  recipro- 
cated. The  birthplace  and  the  home  of  Horace  Greeley  should  ever 
be  places  of  pilgrimage  for  true  Americans. 

The  letter  which  follows  was  received  from  the  vice  president  of 
the  Southern  Society  of  New  York : 

Neiv  York,  February  4,  ipii 

Rev.  Frank  M.  Clendenin 
The  Rectory 

Westchester,  N.  Y. 

Mv  Dear  P>rotiii:r  Cli:ndk\ix  : 

I  regret  exceedingly  that  I  was  compelled  to  hurry  away  from 
the  hallowed  scenes  of  yesterday  and  take  this  first  opportunity  to 
explain  to  Mrs  Clendenin  and  yourself  that  the  president  of  the. 
Southern  Society.  Mr  McAdoo.  notified  me  only  late  in  the  afternoon 
of  Thursday  that  he  would  be  unable  to  attend  at  Chappaqua, 
pursuant  to  the  kind  invitation  which  had  been  extended  to  him  as 
executive  of  the  Southern  colony  in  this  city. 

I  had  two  appointments  for  the  afternoon  of  yesterday,  which  I 


HORACE    GRF.KI.F.V    ^^EI\IORIAL  39 

had  to  switch  off  to  the  evening,  and  as  they  were  quite  important 
1  was  compelled  to  hurry  in  order  to  attend  to  tlicni.  I  would  so 
much  have  enjoyed  remaining  for  the  tea  and  the  exercises  at  the 
site  of  the  proposed  monument. 

I  will  treasure  the  recollections  of  the  day  and  its  doings  so  long 
as  life  is  permitted  to  me,  for  so  much  that  I  recall  of  my  boyhood 
days  is  associated  with  the  great  man  in  whose  memory  we  gathered 
on  yesterday. 

My  father  was  an  old  line  \\'hig.  as  all  the  people  were  in  my 
section  of  Virginia.  He  was  a  subscriber  to  the  Log  Cabin  and  after- 
wards a  subscriber  and  daily  reader  of  the  Tribune. 

The  Tribune,  if  I  may  use  the  expression,  not  at  all  irreverently, 
was  his  political  Bible  and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  go  anywhere  that 
Mr  Greeley  suggested  he  should  go. 

As  a  small  boy  I  can  remember,  on  the  days  that  it  rained  and 
we  were  not  able  to  go  to  school,  the  wanderings  of  myself  and  my 
brother  to  the  garret  of  our  old  colonial  home,  then  diving  and 
delving  in  the  great  barrels  of  copies  of  the  Tribune,  all  of  which 
my  father  preserved  religiously.  I  dare  say  that  some  of  them  are 
there  in  that  home  yet. 

The  agricultural  feature  of  the  paper  appealed  to  my  father,  and 
any  suggestion  that  came  from  the  Tribune  as  to  the  preparation 
of  the  land  for  crops,  the  sowing  and  reaping  of  the  same,  caring 
for  the  orchard  or  vineyard,  the  flowers  of  the  garden  or  hedge 
v/as  immediately  followed. 

Just  before  General  Woodford  rose  to  address  the  meeting  of 
yesterday,  I  asked  him  if  he  would  refer  in  as  grateful  terms  as  he 
could  to  that  act  which  bound  Mr  Greeley  closely  to  all  people  of 
the  Southland  ;  and.  wdien  in  his  peroration  he  summed  up  in  such 
choice  words  my  suggestion,  it  fired  me  to  the  core,  and,  although 
it  would  have  been  rude  indeed  for  me  to  have  said  one  word, 
particularly  in  view  of  the  splendid,  systematic  program  which  the 
president  of  the  Memorial  Association  had  cut  out,  I  would  have 
dearly  loved  to  have  said  to  your  good  wife,  her  daughter,  to  you, 
and  to  those  of  the  friends  of  Mr  Cirecley  around  you,  how  grateful 
our  people  were  in  appreciation  of  the  magnanimity  of  this  great- 
hearted man  who  had  convictions  and  the  courage  of  them,  and 
regardless  of  all  the  pressure  brought  upon  him  had  performed  that 
act  which  neither  General  Woodford,  the  Union  League  Club  of 
this  city  or  many  of  the  staunch  friends  of  Mr  Greeley  could  under- 
stand or  fathom. 

I  do  hope  that  the  opportunity  will  soon  come  to  me  again  to 
meet  Mrs  Clendenin  and  I  thank  you  so  much  for  all  the  courtesy 
which  you  extended  to  me  as  the  representative  of  an  organization 
here  in  this  city  which  is  only  too  glad  to  go  upon  record  in  grateful 
memory  of  one  of  the  great  men  of  the  past  century. 

With  kindest  regards  to  Mrs  Clendenin.  believe  me  to  be 
Sincerely  and  fraternally  yours 

Walter  L.  McCorkle 


NEW    YORK    CITY    HALL 
MEMORIAL  MEETING 


i 


NEW  YORK  CITY  HALL  MEMORIAL  MEETING 

Flags  flew  from  every  statf  on  the  city  hall  in  honor  of  the 
Greeley  centenary,  and  a  number  of  buildings  in  Printing  House 
square,  notably  the  Tribune  Building,  were  decked  with  flags  and 
bunting. 

The  decorations  of  the  aldermanic  chamber,  in  which  the  meeting 
was  held,  were  arranged  under  the  direction  of  City  Clerk  P.  J. 
Scully.  The  chamber  was  draped  with  flags,  and  here  and  there 
was  hung  a  portrait  of  the  great  editor.  One  huge  banner  bearing 
the  arms  of  the  municipality  was  suspended  from  the  middle  of  the 
gallery  railing,  directly  in  front  of  the  entrance,  and  in  the  middle 
of  the  escutcheon,  surrounded  by  the  beavers  and  barrels  of  the  old 
Dutch  settlers,  with  the  solemn  Indian  on  one  side  and  the  sailor 
on  the  other,  was  a  picture  of  Greeley.  Another  picture  was  himg 
in  the  middle  of  a  large  national  flag  behiml  tlie  president's  chair 
on  the  highest  platform  of  the  dais,  and  the  desk  at  which  the  pre- 
siding officer  sat  was  similarly  draped  witth  the  stars  and  stripes. 

Almost  every  seat  in  tlie  chamber  was  tilled,  although  the  hurried 
preparations  did  not  allow  for  timely  public  notice  that  such  a  meet- 
ing would  be  held. 

]>esi(les  the  speakers  of  the  occasion,  there  were  ])rescnt  Kx- 
congressman  Thomas  J.  Creamer.  John  Quincy  Adams  3d,  sec- 
retary of  the  Municipal  Art  Commission,  William  O'Connor,  sec- 
retary to  the  president  of  the  l)oard  of  aldermen,  Patrick  J.  Scully, 
the  city  clerk.  Francis  P.  Rent,  vice  chairman  of  the  board  of  alder- 
men. Supreme  Court  Justice  \\'oods.  of  P)rooklyn.  Louis  F.  Stern. 
William  I'j-ving,  and  many  other  old  friends  and  admirers  of  Mr 
Greeley  whose  names  were  not  recorded. 

Through  a  misunderstanding,  the  Chappaqua  Memorial  commit- 
tee were  of  the  impression  that  the  city  authorities  were  making 
])reparations  for  the  city  hall  meeting  and  therefore  had  made  no 
arrangements  for  speakers.  When  on  January  31st  this  error  was 
realized,  Mr  Erlich  was  commissioned  to  enlist  the  activities  of 
Mr  Albert  K.  Henschel  toward  getting  speakers  and  making  general 
arrangements  for  the  city  hall  meeting.  On  the  morning  of  Feb- 
ruary 1st  Mr  Henschel  received  the  following  letter: 

Mv  De.ar  Hknsciikl: 

I  do  not  know  whether  Mr  Mitchel  has  arranged  for  speaking. 
Will  you  take  the  meeting  in  hand  ?  as  I  shall  be  at  Chajipaqua  where 
I  am  to  speak.  Would  suggest  as  speakers,  Hon.  John  Purroy 
Mitchel,  Albert  E.  Henschel,  Esq.,  General  Stewart  L.  Woodford, 

43 


44  THE    UNlVliKSlTV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

jud<^e  (Jrccnbauin.  St  I'lair  McKelway,  I'rofessor  W.  E.  DuBois, 
jcjseph  [I.  Clioalc.  jocl  Itcnlon,  I'ou^fhkecpsic.  Chaunccy  M.  Depew 
and  others. 

Very  sincerely 

Jacob  Erlich 

Mr  llenschel  immediately  set  to  work  telephoning  and  scurrying 
about.  It  was  extremely  fortunate  that  General  Horatio  C.  King 
was  able  to  set  aside  his  professional  labors  to  prepare  the  historic 
address  for  this  occasion.  But  he  was  instrumental  also  in  securing 
the  attendence  of  General  Daniel   \i.  .Sickles. 

Mr  Don  C.  Seitz,  of  the  World,  was  requested  to  speak,  but  he  sug- 
gested, in  his  stead,  the  editor  in  chief  of  the  Evening  World,  Mr 
John  McNaught.  Mr  William  McAdoo,  who  is  now  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  was  secured  through  the  kindly  offices  of  Mr  Stewart 
G.  Gibboney.  As  the  then  president  of  the  board  of  aldermen,  Mr 
John  Purroy  Mitchel,  was  prevented  by  official  duties  from  pre- 
siding, he  dei)uted  the  vice  chairman  of  the  board,  Mr  Francis  P. 
Bent,  to  take  his  place. 

OPENING  ADDRESS   BY  ALBERT  E.   HENSCHEL 

The  Horace  (ireeley  memorial  committee  of  the  Chappaqua  His- 
torical Society  has  devolved  upon  me  the  honorable  function  of 
representing  them  in  these  memorial  exercises  and,  in  their  name 
and  behalf.  I  bid  you  welcome. 

The  hundredth  anniversary  of  Horace  Greeley's  birth  might  well 
receive  fitting  recognition  in  this  historic,  public  center,  so  close  to 
Printing  House  square,  whence  that  great  and  good  man  exerted 
his  lofty  influence  as  editor,  statesman,  philanthropist  and  patriot. 
We,  the  beneficiaries  of  his  untiring  work,  are  met  in  reverent  grat- 
itude to  pay  tribute  to  his  memory,  to  recount  the  things  he  has  done 
for  us  and  to  profit  by  the  lessons  of  his  life. 

He  was  above  all  a  typical  American,  an  exemplar  of  purity  in 
thought  and  action,  of  whom  Lincoln  said,  "  I  consider  him  inca- 
pal)le  of  corruption  or  falsehood." 

His  life  was  dedicated  to  the  advancement  of  his  fellowman,  and 
journalism  was  to  him  only  a  means  to  this  end.  If  he  desired 
onice,  it  was  not  for  selfish  aggrandizement  but  to  promote  the 
])iil)lic  cause.  The  Tribune,  which  he  founded,  was  made  the 
forum  for  free  discussion.  It  became  the  reservoir  of  the  best  and 
most  reliable  information  —  a  popular  university.  The  personal 
influence  of  his  ])en  has  not  been  exceeded  since  his  day.  The  ser- 
vice for  which  he  will  be  best  remembered  is  his  successful  warfare 
on  slavery.     He  gave  us  Abraham  Lincoln.     When  the  civil  con- 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  45 

flict  was  over,  he  preached  amnesty,  recoiicihaliun,  forgiveness  — 
to  make  this  reconstructed  Union  a  nation  based  on  brotherly  love. 
Now,  that  the  wounds  of  that  dread  contest  are  well-nigh  healed,  we 
behold  in  southern  prosperity,  the  prophecies  and  hopes  of  Horace 
Greeley  fulfilled. 

Greeley  was  a  practical  idealist.  He  labored  for  free  homesteads 
for  the  landless  on  the  public  domain,  protection  to  American  in- 
dustries, cheap  postage,  the  construction  of  the  Pacific  railroads, 
irrigation  and  many  other  internal  improvements.  He  was  the 
strongest  advocate  and  truest  friend  of  the  rights  of  labor,  freedom 
of  conscience,  the  sacredness  of  the  family  tie,  and  he  encouraged 
all  who  were  struggling  for  liberty  anywhere  in  the  world-  He 
loved  farming  and  handicraft.  He  opposed  wrong,  cruelty,  oppres- 
sion, injustice.  Slavery  of  mind  or  body  was  his  abomination;  he 
opposed  capital  punishment,  denounced  the  repudiation  of  state 
debts  or  failure  to  pay  interest  on  them,  and  execrated  officials  who 
were  faithless  to  the  public  trust. 

Our  civilization  has  absorbed  much  of  his  teachings. 

Charles  A.  Dana  said  of  him :  "  What  a  noble  and  useful  career 
it  was.  No  citizen  has  ever  exceeded  him  in  virtue,  in  fidelity  to 
the  principles  of  freedom  and  progress,  in  unswerving  devotion  to 
this  republic,  or  in  love  for  that  great  unity  of  humanity,  in  which 
every  individual  is  but  a  fragment,  an  atom,  seen  for  the  passing 
hour,  and  living  and  acting  but  to  disappear  at  last." 

What  Mr  Dana  said  of  him  was  typical  of  the  expressions  of  the 
press  generally.  Thus  we  find  Air  Greeley  referred  to  as  the 
"  noblest  American,"  the  "  foremost  reformer."  the  "  friend  of  the 
millions,"  as  "  greater  than  his  generation,"  as  "  the  faithful  servant 
of  the  people  "  and  as  "  the  friend  of  humanity." 

As  time  goes  on,  Horace  Greeley's  work  will  be  more  and  more 
appreciated  and  recognized.  The  great  force  of  his  life  continues 
because  all  his  labors  were  grounded  in  the  immutable  principles  of 
truth,  benevolence  and  justice. 

It  is  now  with  great  pleasure  that  T  introduce  to  you  the  pre- 
siding officer  of  this  meeting,  the  Hon.  Francis  P.  Bent. 

Mr  Bent  thereupon  assumed  the  duties  of  chairman  in  a  brief 
address,  expressing  his  thanks  for  the  distinguished  honor  of  pre- 
siding upon  such  an  historic  occasion.  Chairman  I'cnt  then  intro- 
duced General  Horatio  C.  King,  of  Brooklyn,  as  the  "  Soldier, 
patriot  and  statesman,  eminently  qualified  by  his  walk  in  life  and 
the  services  he  had  rendered  to  bis  ountry,  to  deli\cr  the  historic 
oration  on  Horace  Greeley." 


46  TlIK    UNMNKKSITV    OF    TIIK    STATK    OF    XKW    \('\<K 

ADDRESS  OF  GENERAL  HORATIO  C.  KING 

l'"ruiu  the  huinhle  cottajL^e  of  a  poor  country  farmer  to  the  can- 
didacy for  President  of  the  United  States,  from  a  tramp  journeyman 
printer  to  the  head  of  the  editorial  fraternity  in  the  metropoHs  and 
nation,  arc  transitions  scarcely  possible  in  any  nation  other  than 
our  own  f,n-cat  rcpu])lic.  (  )nc  hundred  years  ago  today  this  pe- 
culiarly American  product  was  born  in  a  one-story  and  gambrel- 
roofed  farmhouse  at  Amherst,  N.  H.  The  parents  appear  to  have 
had  no  higher  aim  for  him  than  that  ali'orded  by  the  vicinage  and 
were  ready  to  apprentice  him  to  the  village  blacksmith,  but  Horace 
had  higher  ambitions  and  desired  to  learn  the  trade  of  printer.  The 
poor  returns  from  the  New  Hampshire  farm  compelled  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  West  Haven,  Vt.  Bright,  active,  energetic  and 
jn-ecocious,  at  eleven  years  of  age  young  Greeley  sought  employment 
as  apprentice  in  a  newspaper  office  in  the  town  of  Whitehall,  N.  Y.. 
and  was  rejected  because  of  his  youth.  This  was  in  1822.  In  1826 
he  answered  an  advertisement  in  the  Northern  Spectator  at  East 
Poultney,  Vt.,  where  he  worked  for  six  months  for  his  board  and 
thereafter  for  a])out  four  years  for  $40  a  year  and  board.  The 
paper  suspended  and  left  him  without  a  job.  He  had  lived  most 
sparingly,  sending  almost  his  entire  earnings  to  his  bankrupt  father. 
He  was  then  about  twenty  years  old  and  was  thrown  upon  the  world 
as  a  journeyman  printer.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  not  worn  an  over- 
coat, but  on  his  leaving  East  Poultney  his  friends  presented  him 
with  a  second-hand  one.  He  had  fourteen  months  of  this  expe- 
rience, working  on  the  farm  at  Erie,  Pa.,  to  which  his  father  had 
removed,  when  he  could  not  find  employment  at  his  trade.  Plis 
education  was  confined  entirely  to  the  common  school,  but  he  was 
an  omnivorous  reader,  entered  heartily  into  politics,  was  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  was  looked  upon  as  somewhat  of  an 
oracle,  and  did  some  part  of  the  editorial  work  on  the  Spectator. 
His  ambition  craved  greater  opportunities  and  with  all  his  worldly 
goods  in  a  bundle  slung  over  his  shoulder,  he  walked  to  Rufifalo, 
thence  went  l)y  canal  boat  or  towpath  to  Albany  and  by  tug  to  New 
York.  He  had  Sto  in  his  pocket  when  he  entered  the  great  city 
in  1831.  For  fourteen  months  he  did  compositor's  work  in  various 
newspaper  and  job  offices,  including  the  Evening  Post,  the  Commer- 
cial Advertiser  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,  on  the  last  of  which  he 
ser\ed  longest.  Tn  1833  he  made  his  first  independent  venture  in 
conjunction  with  l'>ancis  V.  Story  and  printed  a  ])eimy  paper  under 
the  title  of  the  Morning  Post,  which  died  in  three  weeks.  But  the 
type  and   fixtures  remained,  and  became  the   foundation  of  a  job 


GENERAL    HORATIO    C.    KING 

Principal  orator  at  City  Hall,  New  York,  February  3,  1911 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  47 

office  which  the  two  young  men  ran.  The  firm  prospered  and  after 
another  year  (in  1834)  the  thirst  for  editorship  grew  strong  again, 
lie  had  indulged  it  to  some  extent  on  the  papers  named.  And  now, 
with  about  $3000  capital,  he,  in  conjunction  with  his  brother-in-law, 
started  the  New  Yorker,  a  literary  weekly.  About  this  time  Bennett 
asked  him  to  join  with  him  in  starting  the  New  York  Herald,  which 
he  declined,  preferring  to  go  it  alone.  He  published  and  edited 
the  New  Yorker  for  seven  years.  His  success  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  William  H.  Seward  and  Huirlow  Weed,  who  engaged  him 
to  edit  the  Jeffersonian,  a  Whig  journal  in  Albany,  until  1839,  when 
it  was  discontinued.  In  the  Harrison  campaign  he  published  another 
political  sheet  called  the  Log  Cabin,  which  did  much  to  promote  the 
election  of  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840.  Its  circulation  reached 
the  unprecedented  number  of  ninety  thousand.  He  had  become  a 
leader,  a  man  to  be  consulted  and  an  influential  political  factor.  The 
paper  suspended  with  the  election  of  Harrison,  but  after  a  few 
weeks  was  resumed,  continuing  until  on  the  loth  of  April,  1841, 
it  was  merged  in  the  New  York  Tribune. 

This  brief  resume  of  his  early  life  brings  us  to  the  period  when 
he  entered  upon  the  great  work  of  his  career,  for  save  a  single 
term  in  Congress,  Mr  Greeley  never  swerved  from  his  duties  as 
editor  and  political  leader.  His  love  for  country  life  led  to  the 
purchase  of  a  farm  at  Chappaqua,  a  happy  resort  and  rest  from 
the  exacting  and  exhausting  duties  of  a  great  newspaper. 

It  is  on  his  development  of  the  Tribune  that  his  chief  claim  to 
greatness  rests.  Zabriskie  in  his  life  of  Greeley  says:  "He  was 
essentially  if  not  exclusively  a  publicist.  Private  and  personal  mat- 
ters had  no  interest  for  him,  as  compared  with  public  affairs,  the 
politics  of  his  country,  the  great  movements  of  the  nation  and  the 
questions  of  reform  which  related  to  social  progress.  He  wanted  to 
be  and  he  rejoiced  to  be  an  editor,  that  he  might  bring  to  bear  a 
great  engine  of  information  and  propulsion  upon  these  worldwide 
and  human  interests.  In  this  endeavor  it  has  been  well  said,  *  he 
put  away  from  him  all  thirst  for  renown,  all  appetite  for  wealth, 
all  desire  for  personal  advantage.  He  never  counted  the  cost  of  his 
words;  he  never  inquired  what  course  would  pay  or  what  would 
please  his  subscribers.  He  held  in  magnificent  disdain  the  meaner 
sort  of  editor  who  strives  only  to  print  what  will  sell  and  held  him 
as  bad  as  the  parson  who  preaches  to  fill  the  pews.'  .  .  .  He 
was  a  true  knight  errant,  because  his  lance  was  always  at  the  service 
of  the  weak,  the  downtrodden  and  the  wronged." 

It  is  not  my  province  to  give  a  mere  biographical  sketch  of  this 


48  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

great  American.  This  i>  accessible  to  you  all.  I  desire  instead  to 
recall  a  few  of  the  most  striking  episodes  in  the  life  of  this  distin- 
guished American.  The  first  to  which  I  will  refer  was  the  contest 
in  the  second  Republican  national  convention  held  in  Chicago  in 
i860.  So  great  w^as  the  popularity  of  Senator  Seward  with  his 
party  in  the  East  that  practically  no  other  candidacy  was  thought 
possible.  The  break  between  Seward  and  Greeley  made  the  latter 
a  somewhat  strong  and  unexpected  opponent  of  the  New  York 
Senator.  His  commission  as  a  delegate  from  ( )regon  gave  him  the 
opportunity  he  sought,  and  lie  was  strenuous  in  his  efforts,  visiting 
and  addressing  the  delegations  against  Seward  and  in  favor  of  Rates 
of  Missouri.  Those  who  came  to  the  convention  not  pledged  for 
Seward  awaited  the  consolidation  of  the  opposition  and  the  ballot 
disclosed  the  strength  of  the  several  favorites  thus:  Seward  173/4 
votes,  Lincoln  102,  Simon  Cameron  50^/,  Chase  49,  Bates  48  and 
a  few  scattering.  There  had  loomed  high  in  the  horizon  during  the 
previous  two  or  three  years  a  f|uaint  character,  who  was  later  to 
occupy  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen  second  only  to  that 
of  Washington.  He  had  lieen  in  the  Illinois  legislature;  he  had 
been  one  term  in  Congress  without  arousing  special  comment ;  but 
his  oratorical  contest  with  the  little  giant,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  for  a 
seat  in  the  United  States  Senate  had  at  last  attracted  widespread 
notice  and  comment.  His  defeat  for  the  senatorship  made  him  a 
presidential  possibility.  It  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  whom  the  \\'est 
pushed  to  the  front  as  the  dark  horse  of  the  convention.  On  the 
third  ballot  Seward  had  but  180  votes,  and  Lincoln  had  increased 
to  2313/2.  lacking  only  five  of  majority.  Then  followed  the  usual 
panic  and  stampede  and  the  nomination  of  Mr  Lincoln  was  made 
unanimous.  While  Lincoln  was  not  Greeley's  candidate  and  Bates 
was,  to  Mr  Greeley  was  attributed  Lincoln's  nomination.  Henry 
T.  Raymond,  another  great  editor,  wrote  to  his  paper,  the  New  York 
Times,  from  Auburn,  on  his  return  homeward  from  the  convention, 
and  gave  the  credit  wholly  to  Mr  Greeley's  influence  and  efforts, 
imputing  these  efforts  to  a  "  personal  hatred  secretly  cherished  for 
years."  This  assumption  was  repudiated  by  Mr.  Greeley's  friends, 
but  his  opposition  was  undoubtedly  the  result  of  the  severance  of  the 
so-called  partnership  of  Seward,  Weed  &  Greeley  in  1854. 

The  second  epi.sode  to  which  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  is 
the  attitude  of  the  great  editor  with  his  enormously  influential 
journal  immediately  ])receding  and  during  the  lirst  year  or  -o  (^f 
the  Civil  War.  Mr  Greeley  was  not  alone  in  his  belief  that  the 
South  would   not  carry  out  the  threats  of   attempted   withdrawal 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  49 

from  the  Union.  He  shrank  from  ilic  ordeal  and  expressed  the 
"  hope  never  to  Hve  in  the  Union  whereof  one  section  was  pinned 
to  the  other  hy  ba)-onets."  The  familiar  expression  is  also  attribtttea 
to  him,  "  Let  the  wayward  sisters  depart  in  peace  " ;  and,  whether 
true  or  not.  it  is  simply  on  a  par  with  the  answer  to  me  by  Edwin 
M.  Stanton  when,  in  the  winter  of  i8r)0,  I  was  a  law  student  in 
his  Washington  office  — "Oh.  I  would  let  the  South  go;  they  will 
be  clamoring  to  get  back  in  three  years." 

Public  sentiment  was  greatly  unsettled  as  to  the  best  policy,  which 
was  particularly  true  of  New  York  City,  whose  commercial  pros- 
perity rested  so  largely  on  southern  trade.  I  was  witness  to  this 
uncertainty  and  to  the  radical  change  which  followed  the  attack  on 
Sumter.  I  had  left  my  home  in  Washington  to  continue  my  law 
studies  in  New  York  City,  and  had  gone  to  the  courthouse  about 
lo  a.  m.  on  some  professional  duty.  When  I  passed  through  Print- 
ing House  square,  all  was  quiet  and  peaceable.  An  hour  or  so 
later,  when  I  emerged  from  the  courthouse.  I  found  the  square 
alive  with  more  than  twenty  thousand  noisy  and  aggressive  men. 
directing  their  attention  to  the  Sun  office,  shouting  for  the  display 
of  the  national  flag.  News  of  Sumter  had  been  flashed  over  the 
wires.  Its  magic  had  consolidated  public  opinion  in  favor  of  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  and  suppressed  all  sentiment  in  favor 
of  secession.  The  mob,  earnest  but  not  angry,  demanded  a  like 
display  from  the  Tribune,  then  the  Times,  next  the  World,  then 
the  Commercial  Advertiser,  the  staid  old  Evening  Post  and  finally 
the  Journal  of  Commerce  away  down  in  Pearl  street,  near  Wall 
street  ferry.  There  was  much  hustling  and  some  delay  in  securing 
the  necessary  bunting,  but  the  unfurling  of  each  flag  was  receix'ed 
with  cheers,  and.  when  the  last  ensign  floated  from  the  Journal  of 
Commerce  staff,  the  vast  crowd  melted  away  as  speedily  as  it  had 
come  together. 

In  the  ])rosecution  of  the  war.  Mr  Greeley  made  mistakes  as  did 
thousands  of  others,  (^ne  of  these  was  in  urging  our  undrilled  and 
unskilled  battalions  to  an  encounter  with  the  Confederates  in  a 
defensive  position  of  their  own  choosing.  "  On  to  Richmond  "  was 
not  without  its  good  results,  for  it  disclosed  to  the  people  that  the 
war  was  not  to  be  a  picnic,  but  that  the  South  was  in  deadly  earnest. 
Mr  Seward's  prophecy  that  the  war  would  be  over  in  sixty  days 
lulled  people  to  sleej).  and  c\en  President  Lincoln  appears  not  to 
have  realized  the  stujiendous  task  before  him.  When  Senator  John 
Sherman  sent  for  his  brother,  (ieneral  Sherman,  who  had  been 
teaching  in  Loui>iana.  and  they  together  had  an  interview  with  Mr 


50  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Lincoln,  (jcneral  Sherman  told  liini  of  his  observations  in  Louisiana, 
that  men  were  drilling  and  getlint^  ready  for  a  protracted  war,  to 
which  Mr  ].incoln  nonchalantly  replied,  "  Oh,  well,  I  guess  we  will 
be  able  to  keep  house  '"  •  and  Sherman  went  away  disappointed 
and  angry. 

The  newspapers  did  a  great  work  in  keeping  up  the  martial  spirit, 
encouraging  enlisthicnts,  backing  the  President  and  Congress,  and 
none  greater  than  the  Tribune,  but  there  were  times  when  the 
patience  of  the  officers  at  the  front  was  sorely  tried  by  the  improper 
information  of  projected  movements  which  leaked  out  through  the 
zeal  of  overzealous  reporters.  The  President,  too,  had  his  troubles 
from  that  part  of  the  press,  including  the  Tribune,  which  urged  upon 
him  the  issuance  of  an  emancipation  proclamation  before  he  deemed 
that  an  opportune  time  had  arrived.  It  was  to  Mr  Greeley's  open 
letter  in  the  Tribune,  addressed  to  the  President,  which  he  entitled 
the  "Prayer  of  Twenty  Millions"  —  an  appeal  for  the  immediate 
emancipation  of  all  slaves,  that  Mr  T,incoln  made  his  famous  reply, 
in  which  he  said  in  part :  "  My  paramount  object  is  to  save  the 
Union,  and  not  either  to  save  or  destroy  slavery.  .  .  .  What  I 
do  about  slavery  and  the  colored  race  I  do  because  T  believe  it  helps 
to  save  this  Union,  and  what  I  forbear  I  forbear  because  I  do  not 
believe  it  would  help  to  save  the  Union.  ...  I  have  here  stated 
my  purpose  according  to  my  views  of  official  duty,  and  I  intend 
no  modification  of  my  oft-expressed  personal  wish  that  all  men 
everywhere  should  be  free." 

That  Mr  Lincoln  was  right  we  now  are  convinced  in  the  light  of 
history.  The  army  in  the  East  had  met  with  almost  continued 
defeat.  The  first  Bull  Run.  the  wretched  disaster  at  Ball's  BlutT, 
the  terrible  Seven  Days'  battles  on  the  Peninsula  and  the  withdrawal 
of  McClcllan's  army  ;  the  frightful  fiasco  of  General  Pope  with  the 
Army  of  Virginia,  which  closed  with  a  second  defeat  at 
P>ull  Run.  gave  no  opportune  moment  for  the  issuance  of  a  procla- 
mation which  could  not  alTect  slavery  within  the  Confederate  lines. 
So  Mr  Lincoln  waited  the  outcome  of  Lee's  invasion  of  Maryland. 
P.y  their  frequent  A-ictories.  the  southern  soldiers  and  their  people 
had  come  to  regard  themselves  as  invincible.  Elated  with  success 
and  encouraged  by  the  blundering  of  the  War  Department,  the 
southern  army  crossed  the  Potomac.  Victory  on  northern  soil 
insured  the  recognition  of  the  Confederacy  and  the  early  end  of  the 
war.  The  disastrous  check  l)y  McClellan  at  South  Mountain  and  the 
awful  slaughter  and  defeat  at  Antietam  and  retirement  of  Lee's 
army  to  Virginia  afforded  to  Mr  Lincoln  the  opportunity  to  launch 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  5 1 

the  proclamation,  when  it  would  he  received  and  read  hy  the  dis- 
heartened South  after  great  and  unexpected  defeat,  as  well  as  by 
the  world  at  large,  with  special  emphasis. 

Mr  Greeley's  "  Prayer  of  Twenty  Millions  "  to  the  President  was 
written  in  August;  Mr  Lincoln's  reply  was  dated  August  22d ;  the 
battle  of  Antietam  was  fought  on  the  i6th  and  17th  of  September; 
and  the  preliminary  Emancipation  Proclamation  was  issued  on  the 
22(1  of  September,  or  within  a  month  of  Mr  Greeley's  appeal. 

The  third  and  last  episode  upon  which  I  shall  dwell  exhibits  in 
the  highest  degree  the  greatness  of  his  character.  Xo  one  doubts 
now  that  the  capture  of  the  fleeing  President  of  the  dead  Confed- 
eracy was  more  unfortunate  for  the  North  than  for  the  captured. 
In  the  light  of  history  it  was  a  blunder.  When,  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  Thompson.  Ex-secretary  of  the  Interior  before  the  war 
and  a  high  official  in  the  Confederacy,  was  captured,  it  is  related  that 
the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  asked  Mr  Lincoln  what  he  should 
do  with  him.  In  his  quaint  and  characteristic  way  Mr  Lincoln  is 
said  to  have  replied :  "  Well,  sir,  if  I  had  a  wildcat  by  the  tail  and 
he  wanted  to  get  away,  I'd  let  him  go;  wouldn't  you?"  He  prob- 
ably w^ished  Mr  Davis  had  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  The 
head  of  the  Confederacy  became  a  "vvhite  elephant  on  our  hands. 
It  is  true  that  his  close  confinement  was  due  in  part  to  the  angry 
feeling  in  the  North  and  West' over  the  assassination  of  Mr  Lincoln, 
but  the  protracted  delay  in  bringing  him  to  trial  was  a  blunder  and 
inexcusable.  While  unsuccessful  rebellion  is  regarded  by  many  as 
treason,  it  is  not  so  judged  by  the  world  at  large,  and  it  was  evident 
that  Mr  Davis  could  not  be  dealt  w^ith  as  a  traitor.  He  was  im- 
prisoned for  nearly  two  years  and  during  that  period  was  subjected 
to  some  unnecessary  severity.  At  last  Mr  Greeley  grew  weary  of 
the  dilatory  movements  of  the  Government  and,  backed  by  men  of 
prominence  and  means,  he  demanded  the  release  of  the  Ex-presi- 
dent on  bail.  He  went  to  Richmond  for  that  purpose,  and  in  open 
court  signed  the  bail  bond.  The  country  rang  with  the  censure  of 
narrow  and  short-sighted  men.  The  far-sighted  editor  had  really 
relieved  the  nation  of  a  disgraceful  dilemma  and  ought  to  have 
received  unstinted  praise.  But  even  some  members  of  the  Union 
League  Club  took  up  the  matter  and  commenced  proceedings  for 
his  expulsion.  This  brought  out  the  full  force  of  Mr  Greeley's 
righteous  indignation.  The  strength  and  pungency  of  his  pen  were 
never  better  evinced  than  in  this  letter  from  which  I  quote : 

I  shall  not  attend  your  meeting  this  evening.  .  .  .  I  do  not 
recognize  you  as  capable  of  judging  or  even  fully  apprehending  me. 


52  THR    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

You  evidently  regard  me  as  a  weak  sentimentalist,  misled  by  a 
maudlin  philosopliy.  1  arraign  you  as  narrow-minded  blocklicads, 
who  would  like  to  he  useful  to  a  great  and  good  cause,  hut  don't 
know  how.  Your  atlemi)t  to  hase  a  great  enduring  party  on  the 
heat  and  wrath  necessarily  engendered  by  a  bloody  civil  war  is  as 
though  you  should  plant  a  colony  on  an  iceberg  which  had  somehow 
drifted  into  a  tropica!  ocean.  I  tell  you  here  that,  out  of  a  life 
earnestly  devoted  to  the  good  of  human  kind,  your  children  will 
recollect  my  going  to  Richmond  and  signing  the  bail  bond  as  the 
wisest  act,  and  will  feel  that  it  did  more  for  freedom  and  humanity 
than  all  of  you  were  competent  to  do.  though  you  had  lived  to  the 
age  of  Methuselah.  I  ask  nothing  of  you,  then,  Init  that  you  pro- 
ceed to  your  end  by  a  l)ra\e,  frank,  manly  way.  Don't  sidle  off 
into  a  mild  resolution  of  censure,  but  move  the  expulsion  which  you 
purposed  and  which  I  deserve  if  I  deserve  any  reproach  what- 
ever. ...  1  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  the  line  I  have  held  from 
the  day  of  Lee's  surrender.  So  long  as  any  man  was  seeking  to 
overthrow  our  government,  he  was  my  enemy;  from  the  hour  in 
wHich  he  laid  down  his  arms,  he  was  my  formerly  erring  coun- 
tryman. 

The  club  held  its  meeting  but  refrained  from  either  expulsion  or 
censure. 

I  must  leave  to  others  to  enlarge  upon  other  features  and  inci- 
dents of  his  career.  One  of  the  saddest  ])ages  to  me  in  the  i)oliticaI 
history  of  this  nation  was  his  futile  eiTort  to  reach  the  presidency, 
and  my  heart  aches  even  now  when  I  recall  the  pitiless  attacks  made 
upon  him  by  the  opposition  press  and  particularly  in  the  caustic 
and  virulent  cartoons  of  Thomas  Nast  in  the  then  Republican  Har- 
per's Weekly.  There  was  one  particularly  bright  star  in  all  the 
somber  darkness.     Henry  Ward  Beecher  wrote  to  him : 

You  may  think,  amidst  clouds  of  smoke  and  dust,  that  all  your 
old  friends  who  parted  company  with  you  in  the  late  campaign 
will  turn,  a  momentary  diiTerence  into  a  life-long  alienation.  It 
will  not  be  so.  I  speak  for  myself,  and  also  from  what  I  perceive 
in  other  men's  hearts.  Your  mere  political  influence  may  for  a  time 
be  impaired,  but  your  power  for  good  in  the  far  wider  fields  of 
industrial  economy,  social  and  civil  criticism,  and  the  general  well- 
being  of  society,  will  not  be  lessened,  but  augmented. 

Mr  Greeley  barely  survived  this  terrible  campaign  ;  his  wife  fell 
ill  and  died  in  the  closing  weeks  of  his  canvass.  After  the  election, 
he  was  stricken  with  severe  illness  and  partially  recovered  so  that 
he  made  an  efi'ort  to  resume  work,  but  in  a  few  days  was  compelled 
to  return  home,  and  died  November  20,  1872. 

His  career  has  no  close  parallel  in  American  history.  The  stories 
told  of  his  eccentricities  would  fill  a  volume,  but  his  great  heart  and 


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HORACE    GRKKLKV    MKMOUIAL  53 

mind  were  always  true  to  the  highest  ideals,  llis  unexpected  and 
well-nigh  tragic  death  silenced  or  softened  the  asperities  of  his 
political  enemies.  The  whole  city  api)eared  to  have  turned  out  for 
his  funeral.  The  body  lay  in  state  in  the  city  iiall.  where  it  was 
viewed  h}-  many  thousands  who  were  not  attracted  hy  mere  curiosity. 
Says  a  contemporary  writer:  "  The  poor  shed  tears  over  him;  the 
laboring  man  stopped  work  that  he  might  pay  a  last  tribute  of 
res])ect  to  him  who  spent  forty  years  in  working  hard  for  the  benelit 
of  workers.  A  more  spontaneous  manifestation  of  universal  sorrow 
lias  not  been  seen  in  this  generation." 

We  do  well  to  celebrate  the  centenary  of  such  a  man. 

ADDRESS  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  DANIEL  E.  SICKLES 

There  was  much  cheering  when  Major  General  Daniel  E.  Sickles 
entered  the  aldermanic  chamber,  hobbling  on  his  crutches  and  muf- 
fled in  a  military  great-coat,  (jeneral  Horatio  C.  King  hastened  to 
the  \eteran  and  gave  him  an  assisting  arm  to  the  platform. 

When  the  long  burst  of  applause  had  subsided,  General  Sickles  said 
he  would  speak  from  his  chair,  "  because  of  a  little  accident  that 
occurred  at  the  Battle  of  (Gettysburg."' 

The  General  recalled  the  thousands  who  wept  at  the  bier  of 
Horace  Greeley  when  he  lay  in  state  in  the  city  hall  not  so  many 
years  ago. 

Greeley  and  he,  the  general  continued,  were  not  always  friends. 
After  he  had  raised  several  regiments  among  the  Democrats  of 
New  York,  he  said  Greeley  attacked  him,  saying  that  he  was  such 
a  rabid  Democrat  he  would  be  sure  to  go  over  to  Jeff  Davis  at  the 
first  opportunity.  He  had  oft'ered  to  disband  the  regiment  and 
retire  himself,  he  declared,  if  his  presence  in  the  army  inconven- 
ienced the  President  in  the  least  degree.  But  Lincoln  laughed  his 
qualms  away. 

When  the  actions  of  his  troops  at  Williamsburg  and  several  other 
battles  had  convinced  Greeley  that  they  were  as  loyal  as  any  in  the 
army,  the  editor  opened  a  subscription  to  present  him  with  a  sword, 
"  better  than  I  could  buy  myself,"  as  the  General  put  it.  Greeley 
and  he  then  shook  hands,  and  they  remained  friends  from  that  day 
to  the  end. 

"  Horace  Greeley  will  be  most  conspicuous  in  the  history  of 
American  journalism ;  but  he  was  more  than  a  journalist.     He  was 


^  The  general's    reference  was  to  a  wound  he  had  received  on  the  second 
day  of  the  battle,  which  necessitated  the  amputation  of  one  leg. 

General  Sickles  died  in  New  York  City  May  2,  19 14,  aged  90  years. 


54  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    VOkK 

a  character  by  himself.  He  was  a  statesman,  intelligent,  able,  inde- 
pendent, patriotic,  courageous,  usually  right,  sometimes  wrong, 
always  frank  and  generous  in  dealing  with  enemies  as  well  as 
friends. 

"  I  am  glad  to  pay  this  tribute  to  my  friend,  an  ornament  to  New 
York  and  to  America,  wdio  will  be  honored  and  remembered  for 
many  generations  to  come." 

Chairman  Bent  :  It  is  highly  appropriate  that  we  should  hear  from 
a  rei)resentative  of  the  South  and  a  gentleman  who  has  rendered 
distinguished  i)ublic  service  to  the  people  of  the  two  states,  New 
York  and  New  Jersey,  in  the  way  of  great  public  improvements. 
I  have  the  honor  to  introduce  Mr  \\'illiam  G.  McAdoo. 

ADDRESS  OF  WILLIAM  G.  McADOO 
As  a  southerner,  I  am  glad  to  join  in  honoring  the  memory  of  the 
great  man  whose  one  hundredth  birthday  we  now  celebrate.  True 
genius  was  personified  in  Horace  Greeley,  and  with  it  was  blended 
a  certain  measure  of  that  eccentricity  wdiich  seems  inseparable  from 
the  genuine  type.  But  these  eccentricities  count  as  nothing  when 
compared  with  the  rare  qualities  which  made  him  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  men  of  his  time. 

No  two  men  on  the  northern  side  of  the  great  contiict  between 
the  states,  hold  a  higher  place  in  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  the 
South  than  Lincoln  and  Greeley.  Wholly  unlike  in  temperament, 
they  were  amazingly  alike  in  their  love  for  the  common  people, 
their  detestation  of  wrong  in  all  of  its  phases,  their  unselfish  devo- 
tion to  the  public  weal,  their  lofty  and  inspired  patriotism.  Each 
had  courage  of  the  highest  order,  a  quality  which,  in  its  physical 
as  well  as  in  its  moral  sense,  appeals  to  the  spirit  of  the  South. 
Neither  Lincoln  nor  Greeley  was  an  Abolitionist  before  the  war; 
each  was  willing  to  leave  slavery  undisturbed  in  those  states  where 
the  constitution  sanctioned  it ;  each  was  opposed  to  its  extension 
into  the  national  territory ;  yet,  when  the  war  came,  they  were 
unflinching  partizans  and  fought  with  the  implacable  resolution  of 
high  purpose  and  deep  conviction.  \\'e  respect  and  honor  them  for 
that.  They  were  not  demagogues,  but  ))icii.  In  thdr  great  souls 
there  was  not  room  for  hatred,  malice  or  base  passion.  Their  love 
for  humanity  and  justice  dominated  them,  and  was  the  mainspring 
of  every  action. 

I  do  not  mean  by  this  to  claim  that  Greeley  was  as  great  a  man 
as  Lincoln.     Greeley  had  weaknesses  and  vanities  arising  from  a 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  55 

craving  for  political  power  which  led  him  into  many  errors,  and 
which  ha\e,  for  a  time,  obscured  his  greater  qualities  and  his  claims 
to  the  high  place  in  history  which  he  unquestionably  deserves.  Lin- 
coln's character  was  >ingularly  free  from  these  defects. 

One  of  the  acts  of  Greeley's  life  that  provoked  the  harshest  con- 
demnation at  the  time  was  his  signing  the  bail  bond  of  Jetlerson 
Davis ;  and  yet,  to  all  men  wdio  admire  heroism,  this  act  alone  should 
establish  Greeley's  claim  to  greatness.  It  required  a  higher  courage 
to  do  this  than  to  charge  the  belching  cannon  on  the  heights  of  Get- 
tysburg. Greeley  had  everything  to  lose  and  nothing  to  gain  in 
doing  it.  His  sense  of  justice,  of  humanity,  of  patriotism,  com- 
pelled him  to  it.  He  vindicated  patriotism  and  constitutional  gov- 
ernment at  a  time  when  the  nation  needed  inspiring  example  and 
he  accepted  serenely  the  bitter  denunciation  to  which  he  was  sub- 
jected, in  the  firm  belief  that  history  and  posterity  would  do  him 
justice. 

I  have  no  patience  with  the  men  of  the  South,  if  there  be  any,  who 
can  not  see  and  appreciate  the  greatness  of  Lincoln  and  Greeley ; 
nor  have  I  any  patience  wnth  the  men  of  the  North,  if  there  be  any, 
who  can  not  see  and  appreciate  the  greatness  of  Lee  and  Jackson. 
Virtue  and  greatness  and  patriotism  are  no  longer  limited  by  sec- 
tional lines  in  this  resplendent  union  of  "  indissoluble  and  indestruct- 
ible states."     Horace  Greeley's  life  demonstrated  that 

"Great  truths  are  portions  of  the  soul  of  man; 
Great  souls  are  portions  of  eternity." 

Chairman  Bent  :  Rev.  Leighton  WilHams,  our  next  speaker,  has 
not  omitted  the  study  of  temporal  questions  in  his  zeal  for  the  pro- 
motion of  spiritual  welfare.  I  know  you  will  be  pleased  to  hear  his 
appreciation  of  Greeley. 

ADDRESS  OF  REV.  DR  LEIGHTON  WILLIAMS 
Horace  Greeley  was  a  noble  yet  pathetic  figure  among  the  fore- 
most sons  of  the  Republic.  It  is  today  one  hundred  years  since  his 
birth,  and  nearly  forty  years  since  his  too  early  demise.  Yet  he 
still  lives  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen.  The  words  of  Bayard 
Taylor  at  the  unveiling  of  his  monument  in  Greenw^ood  cemetery 
are  as  true  now  as  when  he  wrote  them : 

A  life  like  his  can  not  be  lost.  That  sleepless  intelligence  is  Hot 
extinguished,  though  the  brain  which  was  its  implement  is  here 
slowly  falling  to  dust ;  that  helping  and  forbearing  love  continues, 
though  the  heart  which  it  quickened  is  cold.     He  lives,  not  only 


56  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

ill  the  mysterious  realm  where  some  power  and  grander  form 
of  activity  awaited  liim,  hut  also  as  an  imperishahle  inilueiice  in 
tlie  people.  Something  of  him  has  been  absorbed  in  a  multitude  of 
other  lives,  and  will  be  transmitted  to  their  seed.  His  true  monu- 
ment is  as  broad  as  the  land  he  served.  This,  which  you  have 
erected  over  his  ashes,  is  the  least  memorial  of  his  life.  But  it 
stands  as  he  himself  loved  to  stand,  on  a  breezy  knoll,  where  he 
could  bathe  his  brow  in  the  shadows  of  branches  and  listen  to  the 
music  of  their  leaves. 

Long  will  he  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  most  typical  of  Amer- 
ica's sons,  comparable  with  i5enjamin  bVanklin  and  Henry  Ward 
Beecher,  as  one  of  her  offspring  the  most  faithfully  and  broadly 
incarnating  what  is  most  worthy  in  her  development.  Well  do  I 
remember  his  dress  and  figure  in  all  its  picturesque  negligence 
and  native  dignity,  a  modern  Cincinnatus  returning  from  the  plow, 
the  strap  of  his  bootlegs  appearing  over  the  trousers  tucked  within 
them,  the  upturned  collar  of  his  overcoat,  the  flowing,  high  colored 
neckcloth  and  the  broad  felt  hat  shading  the  rough  but  kindly  coun- 
tenance. He  was  a  true  democrat  in  the  social  if  not  in  the  political 
sense  of  the  term,  the  sincere  and  ardent  friend  of  the  plain  people, 
loyally  and  lovingly  identifying  himself  with  them.  He  combined 
within  his  single  personality  in  an  unusual  degree  the  threefold  ideal 
of  liberty,  equality  and  fraternity,  which  still  forms  the  motto  of 
our  sister  republic  of  France,  and  is  no  less  essentially  the  basal 
principle  of  our  free  institutions. 

I  count  it  a  high  privilege  and  honor  to  represent  here  today  in 
these  exercises  the  ministers  of  religion  in  this  city.  There  is  also 
a  certain  personal  interest  for  me  in  this  occasion  to  which  I  hope 
you  will  permit  me  to  allude.  Among  the  group  which  gathered 
about  the  "Albany  Triumvirate,"  as  it  was  termed,  composed  of 
Thurlow  Weed,  William  H.  Seward  and  Horace  Greeley,  was  an 
uncle  of  mine,  James  Bowen,  who  became  a  very  close  and  intimate 
associate  of  all  three  of  the  chief  leaders.  For  his  sake,  as  for 
theirs,  I  am  glad  to  speak  today. 

I  would  speak  briefly  of  three  marked  characteristics  of  Mr  Gree- 
ley's personality  which  illustrate  the  strength  and  beauty  of  his 
religious  nature.  And  first  among  them  may  be  mentioned  his 
enthusiastic  ideal  ism . 

Mr  Greeley  was  no  Aristotelian,  but  a  Platonist  through  and 
through.  For  him,  as  for  the  ancient  philosopher,  ideas  had  a  real 
existence.  With  him  also  intellect  was  suffused  at  all  times  with 
lofty  emotion.  His  ideas  were  to  him  objective  realities,  his  con- 
victions became  great  moral  causes,  to  which  he  gave  a  boundless 


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CANniDACV    RECEPTION 

At  this  time  Greeley's  presidential  boom  was  started 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  57 

enthusiasm  and  an  unquestioning  and  uncalculating  devotion.  To 
him  they  were  never  mere  abstract  propositions  to  be  del)ated  by  for- 
mal logic  with  clearness  of  brain  and  coldness  of  heart.  Rather  did 
they  with  him,  as  with  Ezekiel  in  the  Valley  of  X'ision.,  clothe  them- 
selves with  flesh  and  stand  before  him,  an  army  of  living  men.  He 
gave  ungrudging  advocacy  and  support  to  a  large  variety  of  new 
and  unpopular  reforms,  to  temperance,  to  vegetarianism,  to  aboli- 
tion, to  early  social  experiments,  like  that  at  Brook  Farm,  to  spirit- 
ualism, or  as  we  now  more  generally  label  it,  psychic  research.  On 
all  these  topics  he  wrote  and  spoke  courageously,  and  often  with  the 
full  knowledge  of  the  sacrifice  of  personal  interests  which  was 
involved.  Hence  this  letter,  such  as  few  could  truthfully  pen: 
"  My  Friend:  Of  course  I  threw  away  the  senatorshij)  in  1866  — 
knowing  well  that  I  did  so  —  and  did  myself  great  pecuniary  harm 
in  1867  by  bailing  Jeflf  Davis;  but  supposing  I  hadn't  done  either? 
Either  God  rules  this  world  or  He  does  not.  J  believe  He  does. 
Yours,  Horace  Greeley." 

He  was  a  true  knight-errant  in  journalism,  a  chevalier  without 
fear  and  without  reproach,  lacking  often,  doubtless,  in  prudence, 
in  patience,  in  perseverance,  in  tact,  but  seldom  or  never  in  tender- 
ness, in  courage  or  in  loyalty.  He  reminds  me  strongly  in  these 
respects  of  Charles  Kingsley  and  of  Charles  Dickens. 

A  lofty  idealism  was  the  atmosphere  which  he  breathed  at  all 
times,  and  which  gave  a  certain  grandeur  to  even  the  dull  routine  of 
a  life  of  tireless  industry  and  imparted  a  chaste  beauty  to  all  that 
he  wrote,  so  that  it  might  be  fittingly  said  of  him.  as  Samuel  Jolm- 
son  said  of  Oliver  Goldsmith  :  "  There  was  almost  nothing  which 
he  did  not  touch  and  nothing  that  he  touched  that  he  did  not  adorn." 

I  would  speak  also  of  his  broad  and  truly  catholic  sympathy  for 
the  poor,  the  oppressed,  the  enslaved,  the  young  and  the  struggling. 
One  of  his  early,  boyish  encounters  was  an  efifort  to  protect  a 
fugitive  slave,  while  the  splendid  act  of  later  years  which  proved 
so  costly,  so  almost  fatal  to  his  deeply  cherished  and  highly  natural 
ambitions,  was  his  signing  Jefiferson  Davis's  bail  bond.  Place  these 
two  acts  in  juxtaposition  across  the  span  of  his  whole  public  career, 
forming  as  they  each  do  characteristic  acts  of  one  or  the  other  of 
the  contending  factions,  then  in  the  throes  of  a  life-and-death  strug- 
gle, and  you  measure  the  breadth  of  Mr  Greeley's  sympathy. 

Of  his  strong,  wholesome  interest  in  the  great  productive  indus- 
tries of  the  country,  agriculture  and  manufactures,  there  is  not 
time  to  speak,  nor  of  his  kindly  sympathy  for  the  cause  of  labor  and 
wise  counsels  to  wage  earners.     His  advice  to  young  men,  coined 


S8  THE    UNIVERSITY    OE    THE    STATE    OE    NEW    YORK 

into  the  proverbial  phrase,  "  Go  West,  young  man,"  is  an  illustration 
of  his  clear-sighted  interest  in  the  settlement  of  the  western  states 
of  the  Union,  while  his  advocacy,  immediately  on  the  close  of  the 
Civil  War.  of  general  amnesty  and  of  universal  suffrage  witnesses 
to  the  hreadth  of  his  toleration  and  equal  brotherly  regard  for  both 
black  and  while  races  at  the  South. 

Above  and  beyond  the  actual  state  of  the  Republic,  he  descried 
the  far  peaks  of  a  distant  commonwealth  of  man  which  he  ardently 
sought  to  reach  and  realize.     Thus  he  pictures  it :  ■ 

"A  community  or  little  world  wherein  all  freely  serve,  and  all  are 
amply  served  ;  wherein  each  works  according  to  his  tastes  or  needs, 
and  is  paid  for  all  he  does  or  brings  to  pass;  wherein  education  is 
free  and  common  as  air  and  sunshine ;  wherein  drones  and  sensual- 
ists can  not  abide  the  social  atmosphere,  but  are  expelled  by  a  quiet, 
wholesome  fermentation;  wherein  humbugs  and  charlatans  find  their 
level,  and  naught  but  actual  service,  tested  by  the  severest  ordeals, 
can  secure  api)rol)ation,  and  none  but  sterling  qualities  win  esteem." 

We  do  not  marvel  that  such  a  man  should  have  gathered  about 
him  a  band  of  a])le,  high-minded  men,  many  of  whom  have  achieved 
well-deserved  fame,  Ripley  and  Dana.  John  Hay  and  Bayard  Tay- 
lor, and  others  of  equal  note. 

But  the  few  minutes  still  allotted  to  me  must  be  given  to  a  notice 
all  too  short  and  inadecjuate  of  Mr  Greeley's  religious  opinions,  or 
rather  of  his  stand])oint  with  regard  to  such  matters. 

Like  Air  Lincoln,  he  early  broke  with  many  of  the  strong,  dog- 
matic opinions  held  by  his  parents  and  early  associates.  Neither 
the  dogmas  of  Protestant  orthodoxy  nor  the  ecclesiastical  institu- 
tions and  rites  of  Christianity  had  for  him  strict  binding  force  and 
authority.  Nor,  on  the  other  hand,  was  he  completely  satisfied  with 
a  rationalistic  philosophy  and  a  merely  ethical  world-plan.  He  was 
deeply  grounded  in  an  experimental  idea  of  religion,  and  sought, 
with  an  undiminished  ardor  throughout  his  life,  for  an  enlarging 
experience  of  the  unseen  world.  Two  brief  quotations  from  his 
own  words  will  seem  to  set  forth  with  clearness  his  point  of  view. 
The  first  citation  is  from  his  "  American  Conflict  "  : 

"  I  offer  it  as  my  contribution  toward  a  fuller  and  more  \ivid 
realization  of  the  truth  that  God  governs  this  world  by  moral  laws 
as  active,  immutable  and  all-pervading  as  can  be  operative  in  any 
other,  and  that  every  collusion  or  compromise  with  evil  must  surely 
invoke  a  prompt  and  signal  retribution." 

And  again,  in  "  Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life."  he  beautifully 
states  his  own  personal  hope  of  immortality : 


Ctejidenin  collection 

A    FAVORITE    PICTl'RE 

From  a  steel  engraving  greatly  liked  l)y  the  family 


ITORACK    r,RKEI,KV    MEMORIAL  59 

"  So,  looking  calmly,  yet  humbly,  for  that  clo-^e  of  my  mortal 
career  which  can  not  be  far  distant,  I  reverently  thank  God  for 
the  blessings  vouchsafed  me  in  the  past ;  and,  with  an  awe  that  is 
not  fear  and  a  consciousness  of  demerit  which  does  not  exclude 
hope,  await  the  opening  before  my  steps  of  the  gates  of  the  Eternal 
World. •■ 

I  can  not  close  without  pausing  for  a  brief  moment  to  contem- 
plate the  sorrow  of  his  last  disappointment.  He  became  a  candi- 
date for  the  presidency  with  high  ideals  and  radiant  hopes.  In 
the  midst  of  the  campaign  he  was  called  back  to  the  deathbed  of 
his  dearly  loved  wife.  Her  death  was  speedily  followed  by  his 
overwhelming  defeat  at  the  polls.  His  own  sudden  and  fatal  illness 
occurred  within  the  month.  He  seemed  to  drink  the  cup  of  human 
woe  to  its  last  bitter  dregs,  and  yet  how  nobly  did  he  pass  from 
this  earthly  and  mortal  stage.  To  whom  shall  we  liken  him  —  to  a 
Samson  Agonistes,  to  Oedipus  at  Colonus,  or  Kmg  Lear?  Dis- 
crowned and  undeceived  at  last,  but  not  dishonored. 

And  yet  not  so  much  in  sadness  as  in  hopeful  seriousness  would 
we  take  leave  of  one  so  true  and  so  brave.  Of  him  may  we  say, 
as  says  Milton  of  his  hero : 

"  Nothing  is  here  for  tears,  nothing  to  wail 
Or  knock  the  breast ;  no  weakness,  no  contempt, 
Dispraise  or  blame ;  nothing  but  well  and  fair. 
And  what  may  quiet  us  in  a  death  so  noble." 

Chairman  Bent:  There  would  be  something  lacking  in  these 
memorial  exercises  if  we  did  not  have  some  printer  or  editor  taking 
part.  We  have  happily  with  us  the  editor  in  chief  of  the  Evening 
World.  Mr  John  McNaught,  who  will  give  us  some  ideas  of  Mr 
Greeley  as  a  journalist. 

ADDRESS  OF  JOHN  McNAUGHT,  EDITOR  OF  THE  NEW 
YORK  EVENING  WORLD 

Horace  Greeley  is  one  of  the  few  men  who,  after  doing  great 
work  in  the  world,  are  honored  for  what  they  were  more  than  for 
what  they  did ;  a  man  whose  character  outshines  his  fortune,  who 
is  remembered  for  his  warm  humanity,  rather  than  for  his  service 
or  his  fame. 

As  revealed  in  journalism,  his  character  was  marked  by  traits  of 
such  contrariety  as  to  make  their  union  in  one  person  appear  like  a 
paradox.  He  had  an  ability  for  j^rompt  decision  that  acted  with 
the  surene.'^s  of  an  instinct,  but  was  accompanied  by  a  reflective 
})Ower  that  endowed  him  with  the  sageness  of  a  philosopher.     He 


6o  THE    ITNIVKRSITV    OV    TIIK    STATE    OF    XKW    \()\iK 

liad  such  consistency  of  temper  tliat  lines  of  ctrnducl  adopted  in 
extreme  youth  were  held  steadfastly  throughout  life;  yet  such  was 
tl'.e  elasticity  of  liis  mind  that  he  could  make  his  politics  and  his 
journali-m  conform  to  the  demands  of  the  time  and  the  tastes  of 
the  multitude  at  every  moment.  Moreover  he  had  a  curious  pur- 
blindness  as  to  little  things  that  was  in  marked  contrast  to  the 
clearness  of  his  \ision  of  the  larger  issues  of  the  country  and  of 
the  age. 

By  reason  of  these  contrary  faculties  his  philosophy  and  his 
career  present  a  surprising  array  of  seeming  inconsistencies  at  once 
pictures(|ue  and  perilous;  aberrations  of  word  and  of  action  that 
sometimes  amazed  his  foes  and  at  other  times  astounded  his  friends. 

In  the  main,  the  clearness  of  his  intellect  and  the  largeness  of  his 
sympathy  enabled  him  to  recognize,  to  understand  and  to  appreciate 
every  great  human  movement  of  his  time  whether  at  home  or 
abroad.  He  stood  not  only  for  the  al)olition  of  slavery  but  for  the 
abolition,  as  far  as  possible,  of  all  the  hard  conditions  under  which 
labor  in  his  day  had  to  do  its  work.  With  an  equal  zeal  he  urged 
the  upbuilding  of  the  West  by  individual  enterprise  and  welcomed 
from  Europe  every  creed  of  socialism  that  tended  to  increase  the 
practice  of  cooperation  and  to  promote  the  brotherhood  of  man. 

Shakspere  says  "  our  judgments  are  a  parcel  of  our  fortunes," 
but  Greeley's  life  story  refutes  the  rule.  His  fortunes  were  a 
parcel  of  his  judgment.  What  he  did  was  the  inevitable  result  of 
what  he  thought.  Never  was  his  life  more  consistent  in  all  its  ])arts 
than  when  it  seemed  to  be  inconsistent  with  environment. 

When  the  abolition  of  slavery  was  the  supreme  issue  of  the  time, 
he  worked  with  the  party  that  stood  for  abolition.  \Mien  a  recon- 
ciliation of  North  and  South  became  the  supreme  issue,  he  worked 
with  the  party  that  stood  for  reconciliation.  The  change  was  an 
inconsistency  in  j^olitics,  but  it  was  an  absolutely  consistent  per- 
sonality. No  act  of  his  life  was  more  in  harmony  with  its  guiding 
principle  than  that  of  signing  the  bail  bond  of  Jefferson  Davis.  It 
was  a  revelation  of  his  soul. 

When  he  died,  men  said,  "  The  Tribune  will  be  his  monument," 
but  it  was  a  vain  saying.  No  paper  could  continue  his  influence 
after  he  was  gone,  nor  could  it  remind  men  of  his  personality.  He 
survives  in  the  brightness  of  his  own  fame.  Through  the  night  of 
the  past  his  character  shines  distinct  as  a  star.  Our  America  will 
be  \ery  different  from  what  it  is  before  there  will  ever  be  needed 
either  a  newspa])er  or  a  monument  to  impress  his  memory  upon 
the  people  or  to  recall  to  them  the  inspirations  of  his  genius. 


EXERCISES  AT  GREELEY'S  BIRTH- 
PLACE, AMHERST,  N.  IL 


EXERCISES  AT  GREELEY'S  BIRTHPLACE, 
AMHERST,  N.  H. 

At  Amherst,  N.  H.,  Horace  Greeley's  birthplace,  commemorative 
exercises  were  held  February  3,  191 1. 

A  little  way  out  of  town,  on  the  road  to  the  east,  still  stands  the 
quaint,  story  and  a  half,  unpainted  New  England  farmhouse  in  the 
midst  of  rocky  fields,  where  Greeley  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  The 
house  remains  unchanged,  with  its  wide,  sloping  roof  and  huge 
middle  chimney.  ]\Irs  Clendenin  thus  describes  the  birthplace  of 
her  father:  "  The  little  house  was  built  in  the  old-fashioned  way 
of  great  open  fires  and  hewn  timbers;  so  that  it  still  nestles  beside 
the  roadway  dignified  by  a  tall  elm  tree,  and  lot)king  out  through 
its  small  panes  of  glass  over  miles  and  miles  of  glorious  rolling 
country,  the  sweet  air  perfumed  by  the  native  pine  trees ;  while 
many  a  pretentious  modern  building  has  fallen  into  decay  before  its 
time."  Greeley  said  of  the  house  he  was  born  in :  "  The  house  was 
then  quite  new.  It  was  only  modified  in  our  time  by  filling  up,  and 
making  narrower  the  old-fashioned  fireplace,  which  having  devoured 
all  the  wood  on  the  farm,  ravenously  yawned  for  more." 

Trains,  automobiles,  sleighs  and  all  means  of  conveyance  brought 
people  from  near  and  far  to  join  in  the  exercises  of  the  day.  The 
gathering  in  the  town  hall  was  one  of  the  largest  in  its  history. 
Dinner  was  prepared  by  Amherst  women  and  served  at  12.30  o'clock 
on  the  lower  floor  of  the  town  hall. 

There  were  a  few  relics  of  a  century  ago  in  the  building,  which 
were  viewed  with  interest  by  the  throngs  of  the  curious  who  visited 
the  place,  but  the  more  important  and  interesting  mementos  of 
Greeley  were  in  the  town  hall  in  charge  of  Rev.  C.  E.  White.  They 
consisted  of  rare  old  daguerreotypes,  papers,  letters  and  other  things 
of  that  nature,  once  owned  by  Horace  Greeley  or  relating  to  him 
and  contemporaneous  with  his  early  days. 

The  anniversary  committee  having  the  exercises  in  charge  were: 
Rev.  Charles  Ernest  White,  chairman.  Judge  William  D.  Clarke, 
Representative  L.  F.  Wyman,  Edward  P.  Fowle  and  Harold  H. 
Wilkins. 

The  exercises  were  opened  at  2  o'clock,  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
town  hall,  which,  by  the  way,  is  the  historic  courthouse  which 
erstwhile  rang  with  the  eloquence  of  Daniel  Webster,  of  Franklin 
Pierce,  and  other  noted  sons  of  New  Hampshire. 

A  brief,  felicitous  address  of  welcome  was  delivered  by  Rev. 
Charles  E.  White,  as  chairman,  who  concluded  by  calling  upon  Rev. 

63 


64  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

JJr  Tliomas  Chalmers,  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  at 
Manchester,  to  otTer  prayer.  Following  the  invocation  the  Harvard 
male  quartet  of  Boston  sang  Homer's  "  The  Trumpets  Call." 

Chairman  White  then  read  telegrams  of  greeting  from  the  mayor 
of  Greeley,  Col.,  from  Chappaqua,  N.  Y.,  and  from  several  other 
sources.  Special  interest  was  manifested  in  a  letter  from  Mrs 
Gabrielle  Greeley  Clendenin.  of  Chappaqua,  inclosing  a  letter 
written  by  her  father,  Horace  Greeley.  Her  own  letter  is  as 
follows : 

My  dear  Mr  White  and  descendants  of  my  dear  father's  neighbors : 

1  greet  you,  and  thank  you  for  observing  his  centennial.  You 
know  how  dear  you  all  were  to  his  heart.  I  used  to  think  he  re- 
garded you  as  his  honored  kinsmen.  He  never  was  too  busy  to  see 
any  one  from  Amherst. 

Two  fires  have  consumed  almost  all  my  family  treasures,  but 
I  am  sending  you  one  of  the  most  interesting  letters  I  have,  hoping 
it  will  be  where  all  can  see  it  in  the  future. 

I  have  visited  Amherst,  and  I  think  it  is  a  beautiful  place.  Besides 
its  dear  associations  to  me,  please  say  to  those  met  to  honor  my 
dear  father,  "  my  heart  will  be  with  you  on  that  day." 

Gabrielle  Greeley  Clendenin 

After  a  selection,  "  Love's  Old,  Sweet  Song,"  by  the  quartet. 
Chairman  White  read  letters  of  tribute  to  Horace  Greeley  from  the 
editors,  respectively  of  the  Philadelphia  Enquirer,  the  New  York 
Evening  Post,  the  Washington  Post,  the  Washington  Herald,  the 
Brooklyn  Eagle,  the  Hartford  Courant,  the  Boston  Transcript,  the 
Springfield  Republican  and  other  newspapers,  and  from  William 
Dean  Howells.  Greetings  from  the  New  Hampshire  Press  Asso- 
ciation were  extended  by  John  W.  Condon,  and  from  the  Weekly 
Publishers'  Association  by  Arthur  B.  Rotch.  Especial  enthusiasm 
was  aroused  by  the  announcement  that  the  state  legislature  had 
voted  to  appropriate  money  for  a  memorial  boulder  to  mark  the 
birthplace  of  Greeley,  and  that  the  Governor  had  signed  the  measure, 
which  was  introduced  by  Representative  Edward  P.  Welch,  of 
Franklin. 

The  oration  of  the  day  was  pronounced  by  Hon.  Albert  E.  Pills- 
bury  of  Boston. 

ADDRESS    BY   ALBERT   E.    PILLSBURY,    FORMER 

ATTORNEY  GENERAL  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

"  The  journalists  are  now  the  true  kings  and  clergy.    Henceforth 

historians,    unless    they    are    fools,    must    write    not    of    Bourbon 

dynasties,  and  Tudors,  and  Hapslnirgs,  but  of  Broad-sheet  dynas- 


KIRTHPLACE    MARKER 

At  Amherst,  N'.  H.,  near  "  Greeley  house  " 


HORACE  GREELEV  .MEMORIAL  65 

ties,  and  quite  new  successive  names,  according  as  this  or  the  other 
able  editor,  or  combination  of  able  editors,  gains  the  world's  ear." 

Thus  spake  Thomas  Carlyle  in  1831.  In  the  same  year,  perhaps 
at  the  same  moment,  there  found  his  way  into  the  city  of  New 
York  a  raw  country  lad  from  New  Hampshire,  who  had  it  in 
charge  of  fate  to  make  the  American  kings  and  clergy  bend  before 
the  first  "  broad-sheet  dynasty  "  known  to  the  New  World.  The 
people  of  his  native  town  and  blood,  the  tillers  of  the  soil  that 
produced  him,  are  gathered  here  in  his  memory.  The  eager  interest 
which  the  world  takes  in  every  point  and  circumstance  of  the  life 
of  a  noted  personage  extends  to  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  this 
accident  has  made  many  a  place  otherwise  insignificant  a  place  of 
pilgrimage.  Today  this  modest  New  Hampshire  town  claims  and 
holds  a  wide  attention  as  the  spot  where  a  famous  and  historic 
character  first  saw  the  light  of  day  one  hundred  years  ago. 

The  story  of  Horace  Greeley  is  the  familiar  fireside  tale  of  a 
boy  who  worked  his  way  from  sordid  poverty  to  honorable  fame 
and  a  place  in  history,  by  the  power  within  him.  Greeley  is  unique 
even  among  what  are  called  self-made  men.  He  made  the  ascent 
in  spite  of  personal  faults  and  weaknesses  that  would  have  stopped 
the  way  and  ruined  the  prospects  of  any  but  a  man  of  compelling 
genius.  The  people  always  made  merry  of  his  foibles,  but  he 
secured  and  held  for  a  generation  a  commanding  influence  over 
public  opinion  and  the  councils  of  the  nation.  The  man  who  did 
this  calls  for  attention. 

We  must  take  a  look  at  the  Amherst  boy,  the  ten  years  of  Horace 
that  belong  to  this  town.  It  will  interest  this  audience  to  observe 
that  Amherst  may  take  credit  for  developing,  even  in  ten  years, 
most  of  the  traits  that  afterward  made  him  famous.  When  he  had 
become  a  celebrity  the  usual  crop  of  boyhood  tales  began  to  appear, 
many  of  them  absurdly  exaggerated,  as  he  declared,  but  there  are 
some  that  rest  on  his  own  authority.  There  is  no  doubt  that  as  a 
boy  he  was  a  prodigy.  A  frail,  odd,  tow-headed  child,  nervous  and 
sensitive,  timid  of  manner  and  squeaky  of  voice,  he  seemed  to  have 
eyes  more  for  print  .than  for  anything  else.  He  learned  to  read, 
nobody  ever  knew  how,  before  he  could  speak  plainly,  and  never 
left  ofif  reading.  It  is  said  that  he  could  read  any  book  or  paper 
upside  down,  and  there  are  indications  that  after  he  grew  to  man's 
estate  he  may  have  read  some  things  by  this  process  of  inversion. 
If  reading  came  to  Horace  by  nature,  as  Dogberry  said,  writing 
came  not  at  all.  The  crow's  tracks  that  followed  his  pen  were  all 
his  life  a  national  laughter.    A  typesetter  in  the  Tribune  office  once 


66  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

said  that,  if  Belshazzar  had  seen  that  hand-writing  on  the  wall,  it 
would  have  killed  him  on  the  spot.  Jrlorace  had  to  educate  himself, 
and  he  did  it,  on  the  whole,  so  much  better  than  schools  or  colleges 
did  it  then,  or  do  it  now,  as  to  inspire  him  with  a  lifelong  contempt 
for  colleges  and  college  graduates  —  the  most  ignorant  of  all  horned 
cattle,  as  he  called  them,  lie  used  to  walk  down  the  road  to  meet 
the  weekly  Farmer's  Cabinet,  and  absorb  the  whole  contents  of 
the  paper  on  the  way  home.  He  scoured  the  neighborhood  for 
books,  and  read  by  the  light  of  the  fire,  as  Abraham  Lincoln  did, 
everything  in  print  that  he  could  lay  hands  on. 

Unlike  Lincoln,  he  did  not  mingle  much  in  the  sports  and  games 
of  the  other  boys.  He  sometimes  went  fishing,  but  he  never  would 
use  a  gun,  and  it  is  said  that  he  stopped  his  ears  at  the  sound  of  a 
gun.  He  seems  to  have  had  a  woman's  horror  of  bloodshed  and 
slaughter,  that  followed  him  through  life  and  probably  affected  his 
public  conduct  on  one  or  two  notable  occasions.  He  was  easily 
first  at  school,  and  cried  if  by  any  mischance  he  lost  the  place  at  the 
head  of  the  class.  A  biographer  says  that  he  had  read  the  Bible 
through,  and  beaten  the  town  in  spelling  school,  in  his  fifth  year. 
His  reputation  extended  beyond  the  town  limits.  The  Bedford 
school  committee  voted  that  no  pupil  from  any  neighboring  town 
should  be  admitted  to  their  schools  "  except  Horace  Greeley."  He 
was  a  good-natured  boy,  a  favorite  in  school  and  among  the 
neighbors.  He  tried  to  smoke  at  five  years  of  age,  and  never  tried 
again,  never  touched  liquor  after  his  thirteenth  year,  though  liquor 
was  then  so  common  that  he  describes  in  his  "  Recollections  "  the 
tables  set  with  rum  and  brandy  in  front  of  hospitable  doors  at  the 
ordination  of  President  Lord  in  this  village,  and  if  swearing  is,  as 
somebody  has  called  it,  only  the  unnecessary  use  of  profane  lan- 
•  guage,  Horace  Greeley,  boy  and  man,  can  probably  be  acquitted  of 
all  personal  vices. 

They  picture  Horace  as  wearing  in  summer  the  remnant  of  a 
palm-leaf  hat,  a  tow^  shirt  never  buttoned  at  the  neck,  and  tow 
trousers  with  legs  of  diverse  lengths,  and  in  winter  the  same  with 
jacket  and  shoes.  Like  all  farmer's  boys  of  those  days,  he  had  to 
take  his  share  of  work,  and  some  rough  work.  He  rode  the  horse 
to  plow,  and  was  thrown  ofY,  helped  his  father  for  a  while  in  a 
sawmill,  picked  stones  a  good  deal,  which  he  did  not  like,  and  picked 
hops  in  the  season,  which  was  more  like  play,  for  it  brought  the 
young  people  together  in  a  sort  of  neighborhood  frolic,  as  some  of 
the  oldest  here  may  remember. 

In  the  winter  of  1821,  before  Horace  was  ten  years  old.  he  had 


ALBERT    E.    PILLSBLRV 

Former  Attorney  General  of  Massachusetts 
Speaker  at  centenary  observances,  Amherst,  N.  H.,  February  3,  191 1 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  67 

to  take  leave  of  this  place  of  his  birth.  Debt  and  misfortune  drove 
the  Greeley  family  from  Amherst  to  Vermont  and  thence  to  a 
Pennsylvania  wilderness.  Horace's  young  ambition  had  already 
devoted  him  to  the  "  art  preservative  of  all  arts,"  and  he  was 
resolved  to  be  a  printer.  After  many  rebuffs,  in  the  spring  of  1826 
the  tall,  pale,  awkward  boy,  as  he  described  himself,  was  found  at 
the  case  in  the  printing  office  of  the  Northern  Spectator,  at  East 
Poultney,  Vermont.  In  his  nineteenth  year  he  had  mastered  the 
trade,  was  first  in  the  village  debating  society,  and  the  local  cyclo- 
pedia of  everything  political.  But  the  Spectator  failed,  and  he  lost 
his  place.  He  had  no  money,  no  prospects,  no  influential  friends, 
and,  after  looking  here  and  there  for  work  and  finding  none,  the 
forlorn  and  friendless  lad  started  afoot,  with  stick  and  bundle,  on. 
the  journey  that  ended  after  many  stormy  years  at  the  threshold 
of  the  White  House,  which  he  was  not  to  enter.  He  drifted  about, 
seeking  and  finding  here  or  there  a  job  at  the  case,  and  finally, 
on  the  17th  day  of  August  1831,  the  young  tramp-printer  brought 
up  in  New  York  City,  his  bundle  on  his  back  and  ten  dollars  in  his 
pocket,  dreaming,  perhaps,  but  knowing  as  little  as  the  world  knew 
of  what  was  before  him. 

We  must  pass  by  the  struggles  and  ventures  of  his  early  years 
in  the  city,  the  Morning  Post,  his  first  bantling  of  three  weeks,  the 
New  Yorker,  successful  everywhere  but  in  the  till,  the  Jeffersonian, 
the  Log  Cabin,  of  the  famous  Tippecanoe  campaign  of  1840.  They 
made  reputation  for  him,  the  Log  Cabin  a  national  reputation,  but 
no  money.  The  next  trial  proved  to  be  the  master  stroke.  On  the 
loth  day  of  April  1841,  Horace  Greeley  issued  the  first  number  of 
the  New  York  Tribune.  From  this  time  he  was  making  history. 
The  Tribune  was  to  become'  an  American  institution,"  afid'lo'  wTeld 
a  more  direct  and  powerful  influence  upon  the  recasting  of  the 
American  nation  than  any  other  product  of  the  newspaper  press. 

We  can  not  speak  of  Greeley  without  speaking  of  the  Tribune. 
They  were  one  and  inseparable.  The  paper  began  as  a  Whig  journal, 
devoted  to  Clay  and  a  tariff  for  protection,  and  with  the  strong 
leaning  which  Greeley  always  had  toward  all  social  and  political 
reforms  —  too  strong  a  leaning,  perhaps,  though,  while  his  mind 
was  open  to  all  the  "  isms,"  he  really  embraced  few  or  none  of  them. 
He  was  antislavery,  though  not  an  avowed  abolitionist,  from  the 
day  when  he  wTtnessed  the  rescue  of  a  fuftttve  sfaive^  in  Vermont. 
The  infamies  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  the  Mexican  War,  and 
the  fugitive-slave  law  of  1850,  stirred  Greeley's  soul  to  its  depths 
and  put  him  into  the  forefront  of  the  political  free  soil  and  anti- 


68  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

slavery  movement.  Thenceforth  the  slave  power  had  no  bolder  or 
more  resolute  antagonist,  nor  any  whose  blow  was  more  direct  or 
deadly,  lie  openly  encouraged  resistance  to  the  fugitive  slave  law, 
heaped  contempt  upon  the  Dred  Scott  deliverance  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  he  justly  declared  to  be  "  of  no  more  authority  than 
theropTnion  of  the  loafers  in  a  Washington  barroom,"  rallied  the 
country  to  the  defence  of  bleeding  Kansas,  and  led  the  way  in  bring- 
ing all  the  antislavery  forces  together  in  the  Republican  party.  The 
historic  character  and  influence  of  the  Tribune  grew  out  of  the 
slavery  question  more  than  any  other.  It  began  to  be  a  public 
force  at  the  time  when  slavery  was  pushing  all  other  questions 
aside,  and  its  power  grew  as  the  heat  of  the  conflict  waxed  fiercer. 
The  slave  oligarchy  felt  Greeley's  steel  in  their  vitals,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  they  paid  the  Tribune  the  high  compliment,  which 
it  shared  with  Garrison's  Liberator,  of  an  attempt  to  exclude  it 
from  the  mails  in  the  slave  states. 

From  the  late  forties  the  Tribune  was  the  leading  newspaper  of 
the  country.  In  a  letter  written  thirty-nine  years  ago  today, 
February  3,  1872,  Greeley  said  that  in  ordinary  times  the  circulation 
of  the  daily  had  been  40,000  and  of  the  weekly  120,000  copies. 
Figures  never  measured  the  influence  of  the  Tribune,  which  ex- 
tended far  beyond  its  own  readers.  In  Greeley's  time  a  leading 
newspaper  was  a  social  and  political  power,  addressed  to  thinking 
people  and  read  for  its  opinions  not  less  than  for  the  news.  It 
usually  represented  a  real  character,  and  often  a  great  character. 
It  had  a  constituency,  built  up  by  the  public  confidence  in  the  man 
behind  it.  Of  all  these  Greeley  was  first  in  the  eye  of  the  people, 
and  the  Tribune  spoke  with  his  voice.  Founded  in  protest  against 
the  rowdy  journalism  of  the  Jefferson  Brick  type,  so  justly  stig- 
matized by  Charles  Dickens,  it  was  clean,  independent,  honest  and 
fearless.  Greeley  talked  to  the  people  in  their  own  tongue  and, 
as  it  were,  face  to  face.  A  habit  of  signing  his  articles  with  his 
name  or  initials  gave  them  a  direct  personal  element,  and  many  an 
honest  countryman  who  never  saw  Horace  Greeley  felt  that  he  had 
talked  with  him  and  knew  him.  On  occasions  he  could  smite  with 
a  rough  and  heavy  hand,  wliose  blow  was  terrible  and  sometimes 
fatak  Greeley  was  neither  nice  nor  polite  in  his  choice  of  words. 
Naturally  the  most  peaceable  and  kindly  of  men,  he  was  hot  of 
temper  and  a  master  of  vituperation.  The  much-quoted  "  You  lie, 
you  villain,"  was  not  an  every-day  afifair,  but  he  answered  the  fool 
according  to  his  folly,  and  never  stuck  at  epithets  if  he  thought  they 
were   deserved.     The   clearness   and  vigor   of   his   style,   the   open 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  69 

sincerity  of  his  opinions,  and  the  universal  confidence  in  his  in- 
tegrity, gave  him  a  hold  on  the  popular  mind  unparalleled  in 
journalism. 

The  Tribune  found  its  way  into  every  nook  and  corner  of  the 
northern  states,  and  followed  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the  West. 
With  the  farmers,  who  regarded  Greeley  as  one  of  themselves,  it 
was  especially  strong.  Every  other  newspaper  quoted  it,  and  some- 
body said  that  no  country  editor  put  pen  to  paper  until  the  Tribune 
had  told  him  what  Greeley  thought.  It  was  not  only  the  most 
widely  read  but  the  most  universally  talked  about.  Toiling  and 
thinking  multitudes  absorbed  it,  believed  it,  and  voted  by  it. 
Fletcher  of  Saltoun  said  that  he  who  can  make  the  ballads  of  a 
nation  need  not  care  who  makes  its  laws.  The  real  leader  and  ruler, 
in  whose  hands  all  lesser  men  are  puppets,  is  the  man  who  shapes 
the  course  of  public  thought.  Such  was  Horace  Greeley.  In  the 
critical  period  when  the  forces  of  public  opinion  were  aligning 
themselves  for  the  final  struggle  with  the  slave  power,  a  moral  issue 
was  uppermost,  and  the  appeal  was  to  the  moral  sense.  Greeley 
reached  and  stirred  the  public  conscience.  It  must  be  reckoned  his 
greatest  service  to  the  country  that  he  gave  the  Tribune  a  place  with 
the  Liberator.  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  the  "  Biglow  Papers."  and 
the  stirring  lyrics  of  Whittier,  as  one  of  the  great  moral  forces  that 
settled  the  public  resolve  against  slavery  and  steeled  the  nation  for 
war. 

The  Tribune  made  Greeley  the  best-known  man  in  America. 
Never  holding  public  office  but  to  serve  out  three  months  of  an 
unexpired  term  in  Congress  at  the  end  of  1848  —  in  wJTJch  fragment 
of  time  he  broke  up  the  abuses  of  the  mileage  .system  and  brought 
in  the  national  policy  of  the  homestead  laws  —  he  was  the  most 
public  character  in  the  country.  The  oddities  of  his  appearance 
and  manner,  the  patriarchal  head  and  face,  the  old  hat  and  old 
white  coat,  the  cravat  awry,  the  shapeless  trousers,  the  shambling 
gait,  celebrated  and  exaggerated  in  print  and  caricature,  made  him 
one  of  the  sights  of  New  York,  and  v.^ould  have  been  recognized  at 
any  crossroads  in  the  United  States.  As  the  Tribune  was  more 
talked  about  than  any  other  paper,  so  Greeley  himself  was  more 
talked  about  than  any  other  man.  His  name  was  familiar  to  every 
tongue,  and  his  character  to  every  man  who  could  read.  Any  bright 
schoolboy  could  have  told  what  "  H.  G."  stood  for,  and  any  in- 
telligent citizen  could  have  told  what  Horace  Greeley  stood  for. 

It  was  not  the  Tribune  alone  that  did  this.  Greeley's  activities 
were  many  and  amazing.     Politics  and  journalism  never  monop- 


/O  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YCRK 

olized  the  energy  of  this  phenomenal  mind.  He  was  always  at 
work  for  the  social  and  industrial  welfare  and  progress  of  the 
people.  Whittier  called  him  "  our  later  Franklin."  There  is  poetic 
license  in  this  c(im])arison,  hut  it  may  he  douljted  whether  there  has 
heen  since  h^ranklin's  any  more  widely  useful  life.  With  the 
Tribune  on  his  shoulders,  he  contributed  to  other  newspapers  and 
magazines,  delivered  addresses  on  all  sorts  of  occasions,  lectured 
before  country  lyccums  as  the  fashion  then  was,  spoke  from  the 
stump  in  political  campaigns,  produced  volumes  of  travel,  social 
reform,  agriculture,  political  economy,  and  one  work  of  permanent 
historical  value.  "  The  American  Conflict  "  would  have  made  an 
enduring  reputation  for  him  if  he  had  written  nothing  else.  His 
part  in  politics  was  not  merely  the  part  of  a  writer  and  speaker. 
For  many  years  the  noted  triumvirate  of  Seward,  Weed  and  Greeley 
'had  a  direct  and  powerful  hand  upon  the  political  machinery  of 
New  York  and  of  the  nation.  With  unbounded  faith  in  the  future 
of  the  country,  and  eager  for  its  development,  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  urge  a  I'acific  railway  when  such  a  project  was  laughed  at. 
and  Greeley's  persistent  "  Go  West,  young  man  "  became  the  rally- 
ing cry  of  a  national  movement  that  peopled  new  states. 

All  his  industry  and  success  never  made  him  rich.  He  had  no 
love  for  money,  and  he  was  never  a  business  man.  Swindlers  could 
overreach  him  and  impostors  get  money  from  him,  though  the  con- 
stant appeal  to  his  easy  benevolence  was  sometimes  too  much  for 
his  temper.  A  solemn-looking  character  hung  about  his  desk  one 
day  until  the  hurried  editor  demanded  his  errand.  "  I  want  you 
to  give  me  a  contribution  "  said  the  stranger,  "  to  save  thousands 
of  our  fellow  creatures  from  going  to  hell."  "  I  won't  give  you  a 
blanked  cent,"  was  the  reply.  "  Not  half  enough  of  them  go  there 
now."     Greeley  was  a  Universalist. 

W^e  are  here  to  remember  Horace  Greeley,  not  to  praise  him. 
1  lis  character  presents  a  strange  combination  of  strength  and  weak- 
ness. He  was  wise  as  a  sage  and  simple  as  a  child,  fixed  in  con- 
viction and  erratic  of  judgment,  full  of  benevolence  to  every  living 
creature,  and  almost  as  full  of  prejudices,  a  lover  of  man  and  a 
hater  of  men.  The  pugnacity  of  his  honest  nature  struck  out  fiercely 
at  every  rogue,  hypocrite  and  humbug,  and  at  some  just  men  and 
causes.  Where  there  are  blows  to  give,  there  are  blows  to  take. 
It  is  no  wonder  that  this  dynamic  man  of  peace  was  more  abused, 
admired,  vilified,  hated,  trusted  and  followed,  than  any  other  man 
of  his  time. 

With   the  approach   of  the   rebellio!i.   Greeley  became  a  greater 


From  Americana  collection  of  Frederick  H.  Meserve,  New  York 

GREELEY  AT  DIKFEKEN 1  AGES 


1856 
1869 


1869 


1865 
1872 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  7I 

figure  than  before.     His  place  in  journalism  had  long  been  first. 
He  was  about  to  take  a  larger  place  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
In  his  erratic  course  through  this  period  there  are  some  episodes  , 
that  can  not  be  recalled  with  satisfaction.     His  impulsive  tempera-  I 
ment  betrayed  him  into  conduct  which  has  left  shadows  upon  his  / 
reputation,  but  there  is  no  stain  upon  it.    His  integrity  of  character 
and  purity  of  motive  were  nev;er  qiiestioneTT 

In  the  historic  contest  of  1858  between  Douglas  and  Lincoln, 
Greeley's  mistaken  sympathy  with  a  Democrat  in  revolt  against  a 
Democratic~a'dmmTstraH6rr,  ~aYid'hrs  -v^'ewsof  party  policy,  led  him 
to  advocate  the  reelection  of  Douglas.  Naturally  and  justly  resented 
by  the  RepubHcairs'of  the  AVest,  this  was  more  than  atoned  for  two 
years  later.  In  the  Republican  convention  of  i860,  at  Chicago, 
Greeley  cast  all  his  strength  against  Seward,  the  leading  candidate, 
and  cleared  the  way  for  the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  This 
act  was  charged  to  personal  resentment  against  Seward,  and  not 
without  some  reason,  but  Greeley  was  more  than  justified  by  the 
results.  In  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  the  man  whose  influence 
was  decisive  in  making  Seward  give  place  to  Lincoln  as  the  leader 
of  the  nation  through  the  throes  of  civil  war  appears  a  chosen 
instrument  in  the  hand  of  Providence. 

In  the  perilous  years  of  President  Lincoln's  administration,  the 
wisdom  of  his  attitude  in  refusing  to  move  faster  than  the  people 
moved  made  every  leader  of  public  opinion  an  important  character. 
Of  the  leaders  of  public  opinion  the  man  who  wielded  the  power 
of  the  Tribune  was  second  only  to  Lincoln  himself,  and  his  mistakes 
could  not  escape  notice  and  criticism.  There  was  no  purer  patriot, 
no  more  loyal  friend  of  freedom  and  of  the  Union,  than  Horace 
Greeley,  but  he  was  subject  to  the  limitations  of  his  nature.  When 
the  revolt  of  the  slave  states  was  threatened,  Greeley  scouted  it, 
declaring  that  the  South  could  no  more  unite  on  such  a  scheme  than 
a  parcel  of  lunatics  could  conspire  to  break  out  of  Bedlam.  \\^hen 
secession  actually  l)egan.  he  at  first  advised  that  the  rebellious  statC'? 
be  allowed  to  go  in  peace.  So  potent  was  his  influence  that  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  was  moved  to  interpose  against  the  further  expression 
of  such  views.  Tlierc  was  no  more  of  this  after  the  attack  on 
Sumter.  When  rebellion  had  fairly  unmasked  its  front  of  war, 
the  Tribune  raised  the  cry  of  "  On  to  Richmond,"  and  the  popular 
clamor  drove  our  raw  levies  into  the  di.saster  of  Bull  Run.  Despite 
his  just  disclaimer  of  personal  responsibility,  the  public  fury  at  the 
defeat  was  turned  upon  Greeley,  always  a  sensitive  man  in  spite  of 
his  fighting  traits,  and  drove  him  into  a  fever  that  threatened  his 


^2  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

life,  in  which  he  addressed  to  the  President  a  despairing  letter  that 
made  Lincoln,  as  his  biographers  say,  **  sigh  at  the  strange  weakness 
of  human  nature." 

Greeley's  impatient  temper  could  not  await  the  cautious  and  sure- 
footed steps  of  the  great  President  toward  the  freeing  and  arming 
of  the  slaves.  The  "  Prayer  of  Twenty  Millions,"  published  in  the 
Tribune,  of  August  19,  1862,  protesting  against  the  slow  enforce- 
ment of  the  confiscation  acts  upon  the  slaves  of  rebels  in  arms, 
drew  from  the  President  a  public  reply,  personally  addressed  to 
Greeley,  which  stands  out  as  one  of  the  most  striking  examples 
alike  of  Lincoln's  political  sagacity  and  his  wonderful  power  of  clear 
and  direct  statement.  In  this  letter  is  the  much-quoted,  misunder- 
stood and  perverted  declaration,  "  If  I  could  save  the  Union  with- 
out freeing  any  slave,  I  would  do  it."  It  is  a  singular  proof  of 
human  fatuity  that  people  who  read  our  history,  and  some  who 
write  it,  even  in  the  light  of  what  followed  still  profess  to  believe 
that  Lincoln  would  have  allowed  slavery  to  be  preserved,  and  quote 
this  letter  for  the  proof.  He  declared  that  his  purpose  was  to  save 
the  Union,  and  every  student  of  Lincoln's  life  knows  that  there 
never  was  a  time  after  1854  when  his  unerring  and  prophetic  vision 
did  not  see  that  the  Union  could  not  be  saved  with  slavery.  When 
he  had  become  President,  with  the  issues  of  war  in  his  hands,  there 
were  occasions  when  the  duty  of  preserving  a  united  North  com- 
pelled him  to  temporize,  and  to  be  all  things  to  all  men.  It  is  plain 
that  he  seized  the  occasion  of  Greeley's  protest  to  make  this  public 
declaration  only  because  it  would  help  to  disarm  the  hostility  of 
northern  conservatives  to  the  policy  of  emancipation  on  which  he 
was  already  resolved.  He  could  not  yet  publicly  declare  that  he  was 
resolved  upon  it,  though  this  can  almost  be  read  between  the  lines, 
especially  of  the  opening  passage  of  his  letter.  But  it  need  only  be 
remembered  that,  at  the  moment  when  Lincoln  penned  this  letter 
to  Greeley,  on  the  22d  day  of  August  1862,  there  lay  upon  his  table, 
ready-winged  for  its  flight,  the  proclamation  of  freedom,  which  had 
already  been  announced  to  the  cabinet  council  and  a  month  later 
was  given  to  the  world. 

In  1864,  when  final  victory  was  in  sight,  Greeley  seemed  appalled 
at  the  continued  outpouring  of  blood  and  treasure,  called  for  a 
cessation  of  hostilities,  and  urged  the  President  to  negotiate  for 
peace  with  rebel  agents  then  in  Canada.  The  tactful  President  met 
this  demand  by  promptly  deputing  Greeley  himself  upon  the  mission, 
which  came  to  nothing.  He  did  not  favor  the  renomination  of 
Lincoln,  and  predicted  his  defeat  if  nominated,  though  supporting 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  73 

Jiim  vigorously  in  the  campaign.  The  patient  President  believed 
and  declared  Greeley  incapable  of  wilful  misconduct,  and  Greeley 
afterward  atoned,  so  far  as  he  could,  for  his  attitude  toward  Lin- 
coln in  his  lifetime,  acknowledging  him  to  be  "  the  one  providential 
leader,  the  indispensable  hero  of  the  great  drama." 

Upon  the  collapse  of  the  rebellion,  Greeley's  benevolent  impulses 
led  him  to  take  ground  at  once  for  universal  amnesty  and  universal 
suffrage.  The  freedman  should  vote,  and  the  rebel  should  be 
forgiven.  In  line  with  this  conviction  he  made,  on  invitation,  a 
journey  to  Richmond,  in  1867,  to  become  bail  for  the  release  of 
Jefferson  Davis  from  further  military  custody.  This  generous  if 
misguided  act  raised  a  storm  of  denunciation.  The  Tribune  vvas 
assailed  with  a  chorus  of  "  Stop  my  paper,"  the  sale  of  the 
"  American  Conflict "  came  to  a  standstill,  and  even  Greeley's  per- 
sonal and  social  standing  was  threatened.  A  leading  club  called 
him  to  account  with  a  view  to  expulsion;  to  which  he  rejoined  with 
characteristic  vigor,  "  You  evidently  regard  me  as  a  weak  senti- 
mentalist, misled  by  a  maudlin  philosophy.  I  arraign  you  as  narrow- 
minded  blockheads,  who  would  like  to  be  useful  to  a  great  and 
good  cause  but  don't  know  how."  The  club  did  not  pursue  the 
subject.  When  the  fifteenth  amendment  had  been  ratified,  Greeley 
declared  "  the  books  closed,"  that  all  the  crimes  of  rebellion  should 
be  overlooked  and  all  remembrance  of  them  merged  in  complete 
reconciliation.  He  failed  in  judgment  here,  as  he  had  at  other 
critical  periods.  Even  the  contemptuous  rejection  of  the  constitu- 
tional amendments  by  the  rebel  states  had  not  taught  him  that  the 
snake  was  only  scotched,  not  killed.  The  South  was  still  deter- 
mined, as  it  is  today,  to  preserve  the  substance  if  not  the  form  of 
slavery,  and  after  almost  half  a  century  we  find  it  still  in  open 
rebellion  against  the  Federal  constitution,  by  fraud  instead  of  force, 
with  Greeley's  hope  of  universal  or  even  impartial  suffrage  yet 
unrealized. 

We  come  to  the  climax,  and  the  catastrophe.  In  May  1872,  the 
Liberal  Republican  convention,  at  Cincinnati,  nominated  Greeley 
for  the  presidency.  This  futile  but  not  unpatriotic  movement  was  a 
Republican  revolt  against  President  Grant,  led  by  eminent  and  high- 
minded  men  whose  confidence  was  shaken,  perhaps  to  soon,  by  the 
mistakes  of  his  first  administration  and  the  sinister  influence  of 
worthless  camp-followers  about  him.  The  Cincinnati  platform, 
unexceptionable  in  tone  and  character,  followed  Greeley  in  declar- 
ing for  universal  amnesty  and  impartial  suffrage,  and  Greeley's 
letter  of  acceptance  expressed  his  belief  that  the  people.  North  and 


74  'i-'^^^    UM\KKS1TV    OF    THE    STATE    UF    NEW    YORK 

South,  were  ready  to  "  clasp  hands  across  the  bloody  chasm  "  —  a 
phrase  that  passed  into  a  popular  shibboleth.  Forthwith  upon  this 
nomination  all  the  vials  ot  partisan  wrath  were  opened  and  poured 
out  upon  him.  lie  had  asserted  his  independence  of  party,  the 
mortal  sni  of  politicians.  All  that  he  had  done  for  the  party,  and 
for  the  country,  was  forgotten  in  a  moment.  Calunmy  outran  itself, 
and  Greeley  was  lampooned,  abused  and  reviled  with  a  brutal  ferocity 
unknown  even  to  the  prize-ring  of  politics.  The  Democratic 
convention,  meeting  at  baltimore  in  July,  adopted  the  Cincinnati 
candidates  and  plattorm,  and  Greeley  accepted  the  nomination.  This 
sealed  his  fate,  though  it  was  not  otherwise  doubtful.  Myriads  of 
Republicans  in  sympathy  with  the  movement  refused  to  see  That 
Greeley,  who  did  not  alter  his  position  by  the  breadth  of  a  hair,  had 
not  gone  to~EKe  Democratic  party  but  that  the  party  had  come  to 
him.  They  would  not  support  a  candidate  bearing  the  Democratic 
label,  lie  made  a  campaign  tour  of  New  England  and  the  Middle 
West,  rising  to  his  highest  level  in  a  series  of  dignified,  temperate 
and  statesmanlike  speeches,  and  achieved  a  popular  vote  of  nearly 
three  millions  in  a  total  of  less  than  six  millions  and  a  half,  but 
every  northern  state  was  against  him.  The  distrust  of  Greeley's 
new  alliance  was  not  unnatural  or  unfounded,  and  Greeley  himself, 
with  all  his  virtues,  did  not  strike  the  popular  instinct  as  a  safe 
candidate  for  the  presidency.  Apart  from  this,  the  military  prestige 
of  President  Grant  would  have  carried  all  before  it.  The  people 
remembered  the  victorious  general,  and  they  forgot  everything  else. 
Greeley's  defeat  was  foreordained  at  Appomattox. 

He  was  recalled  from  the  strife  of  the  campaign  to  the  bedside 
of  his  dying  wife,  who  was  taken  from  him  on  the  eve  of  the  elec- 
tion. Widowed  and  defeated,  his  fortitude  was  still  unshaken,  and 
no  sooner  was  the  result  of  the  political  contest  declared  than  he 
promptly  resumed  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Tribune.  But  the 
calamities  that  could  not  subdue  this  resolute  spirit  were  too  much 
for  the  physical  frame.  The  overworked  brain  gave  way,  and  on 
the  29th  day  of  that  same  month  of  November,  with  little  warning, 
the  country  was  startled  by  the  news  that  Horace  Greeley  was  no 
more. 

At  the  dramatic  culmination  of  this  illustrious  and  useful  life, 
and  the  pathos  of  the  closing  scene,  there  was  a  recoil  from  the 
extreme  of  abuse  to  the  extreme  of  eulogy.  All  classes  and  condi- 
tions of  men  joined  in  the  universal  expression  of  public  loss,  to 
which  probably  every  press  and  almost  every  pulpit  in  the  United 
States  made  its  contribution.     The  citv  of  New  York  turned  aside 


From  Americana  eoUection  of  Frederick  H.  Mesnvc,  Xr-.r  York 

PHOTOGRAPHS     OF     GREELKV      AT     DIFFERENT      PERIODS 

In  upper  left-hand  corner,  with  B.  Gratz  Brown 
-872  1866  1872 


1869 


1872 


lloRACi:    CREELEV    MEMORIAL  75 

for  the  funeral  observance.  Crowds  surged  through  City  Hall  to 
view  the  dead  face  of  the  friend  of  the  people  until  the  doors  had 
to  be  closed  against  them.  The  highest  officials  of  the  nation  and 
of  many  states  followed  him  to  the  grave,  through  silent  and  un- 
covered throngs,  never  seen  before  nor  since  save  at  the  obsequies 
of  Lincoln  and  Grant.  It  was  not  the  empty  honor  often  paid  to 
official  station,  for  he  held  none,  nor  to  success,  for  he  died  under 
the  shadow  of  defeat.  It  was  a  sincere  and  unaffected  tribute  to 
the  patriot,  the  friend  of  humanity,  the  tribune  of  the  people. 

It  has  been  unworthily  said  that  he  died  of  wounded  vanity  at 
the  judgment  passed  against  him  in  the  election.  Such  empty 
detraction  can  neither  be  proved  nor  disproved,  but  it  is  not  likely 
that  the  ordinary  abuse  of  a  presidential  contest,  even  followed  by 
defeat,  would  have  put  an  end  to  his  life  or  seriously  disturbed  him. 
In  the  warfare  of  politics,  Horace  Greeley  was  an  old  soldier.  No 
man  knew  better  than  he  that  the  loudest  clamor  of  a  presidential 
campaign  is  nothing  but  the  squealing  and  scram])ling  of  a  herd  of 
mercenaries  to  get  their  noses  into  the  public  trough  or  keep  them 
in  it.     As  Hosea  Biglow  said  or  sang : 

They  march  in  percessions,  an'  git  up  hooraws, 
An'  tramp  thru  the  mud  for  tlie  good  o'  the  cause, 
An'  think  they're  a  kind  o'  fuhlllin'  tlie  prophecies 
Wen   they're   only   jest   changin'   the   holders   of   offices. 

Greeley  was  not  to  be  frightened  or  hurt  by  the  thunder  of  the 
captains  and  the  shouting,  and  he  well  knew  the  fortune  of  war. 
Even  in  defeat,  it  was  not  wholly  adverse  to  him.  He  received  a 
great  popular  indorsement  in  the  vote  at  the  polls.  But  he  was  cut 
to  the  heart  by  the  malice  of  enemies  and  treachery  of  friends.  He 
was  tortured  with  fear  of  disaster  to  the  Tribune,  the  child  of  his 
affection.  He  had  taxed  his  physical  powers  beyond  endurance,  and 
domestic  calamity  fell  heavily  upon  him  at  the  moment  when  out- 
raged nature  was  strained  to  the  breaking  point.  Surely  there  is 
enough  here  to  account  for  his  taking-oft'. 

A  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country  and  in 
his  own  house.  Happily  it  is  not  left  to  his  native  town  or  state  to 
remember  Horace  Greeley.  Many  biographers  have  told  and  still 
tell  his  story,  the  working  printers  placed  above  his  grave  in  Green- 
wood cemetery  a  memorial  bust,  cast  in  type-metal,  his  statue  was 
raised  on  the  spot  dedicated  by  the  city  of  New  York  as  Greeley 
square,  and  towns  and  counties  in  the  far  West  bear  and  perpetuate 
his  name ;  while  New  Hampshire  talks  of  a  statue  to  the  president 
who  fed  from  the  hand  of  slavery  and  went  to  the  verge  of  treason 


76  Till':   i\i\i-:ksiiv   of  tiik  state  of   xXEw   york 

in  holding  oul  h()i)c  to  a  slaveholders'  rebellion  —  leaving  to  distant 
slates  the  pious  duty  of  eommemorating  her  son  who  lost  the  presi- 
dency but  kept  his  honor  and  kept  faith  with  freedom. 

The  loss  of  the  presidency  was  no  misfortune  to  Greeley.  It 
would  have  added  little,  perhaps  nothing,  to  his  permanent  reputa- 
tion. Fortunate  that  he  escaped  the  fate  of  some  in  that  illustrious 
line  for  whom  obHvion  would  be  a  happy  exchange.  A  man  of 
genius,  with  the  faults  that  usual!}'  alleud  u[)on  genius,  he  was  not 
of  the  stuff  of  which  Presidents  are  made.  High  character  and 
purity  of  purpose  he  had,  but  not  the  cool  and  balanced  judgment, 
the  "  sure-footed  mind  "  and  "  supple-tempered  will  "  that  ought 
to  be  found  in  the  head  of  the  nation.  In  temperament  he  was  lesi 
a  statesman  than  moralist  and  reformer,  though  what  overflowed 
from  Greeley  into  the  held  of  statecraft  would  make  the  reputation 
of  many  statesmen.  He  had  a  human  interest  in  which  many 
greater  men  are  wanting.  It  is  enough  for  his  fame  that  he  had  a 
foremost  part  in  forging  the  weapons  that  struck  down  rebellion 
and  saved  the  Union  that  slavery  would  have  destroyed.  A  great 
citizen,  whose  example  was  the  shame  of  every  hypocrite  and 
coward,  who  never  stifled  his  honest  thought  nor  bent  his  knee  to 
power,  whose  character  and  voice  of  authority  made  legislatures 
listen  and  statesmen  sit  at  his  feet,  he  will  be  remembered  when 
Presidents  are  forgotten. 

Horace  Greeley  was  first  and  last  a  great  journalist,  holding  that 
this  character  may  be  made  superior  to  any  official  station,  and 
doing  much  to  vindicate  the  claim.  His  influence  permanently  raised 
the  level  of  the  American  newspaper  and  the  thought  of  the  Ameri- 
can people.  The  real  power  of  the  press  in  this  country  began  with 
Greeley,  and  if  it  did  not  end  with  him,  it  has  gained  nothing  since. 
The  Tribune  had  no  higher  merit  than  its  absolute  independence, 
alike  of  the  slave  power,  which  ruled  the  country  then,  and  the 
money  power,  which  rules  the  country  now.  We  know  in  what 
contempt  the  great  editor  would  have  held  the  modern  advertising 
machine,  boasting  its  circulation  but  without  character  or  courage  to 
print  anything  that  might  disturb  the  balance  of  a  ledger.  Better, 
would  he  say,  better  the  honest  opinion  even  of  a  bad  man  than  the 
dumb  oracle  that  sits  with  hand  on  mouth  and  points  to  a  bargain 
counter. 

It  was  in  the  character  of  journalist  that  Horace  Greeley  wished 
to  be  remembered.  Not  long  before  his  death  he  left  this  testimony 
to  the  world,  in  solemn  and  pathetic  words  that  sound  of  prophecy 
and  requiem.     "  Fame,"  he  said,  "  is  a  vapor;  popularity  an  acci- 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL 


77 


dent;  riches  take  wings;  the  only  earthly  certainty  is  ubHvion ;  no 
man  can  foresee  what  a  day  may  bring  forth ;  while  those  who  cheer 
today  will  often  curse  tomorrow ;  and  yet  I  cherish  the  hope  that 
the  journal  I  projected  and  established  will  live  and  flourish  long 
after  I  shall  have  moldered  into  forgotten  dust,  being  guided  by 
a  larger  wisdom,  a  more  unerring  sagacity  to  discern  the  right, 
though  not  a  more  unfaltering  readiness  to  embrace  and  defend  it 
at  whatever  cost ;  and  that  the  stone  which  covers  my  ashes  may 
bear  to  future  eyes  the  still  intelligible  inscription,  '  Founder  of  the 
New  York  Tribune.'  " 


From  an  old  print 

Greeley's  birthplace  at  amherst,  n.  h. 


GREELEY   HONORED    IN 
COLORADO 


GREELEY  HONORED  IN  COLORADO 

In  Greeley,  Colorado,  Horace  Greeley's  one  hundredth  birthday 
was  celebrated  by  the  entire  community  —  the  town  and  country 
round  — •  while  Denver,  Pueblo,  Colorado  Springs,  Boulder,  Long- 
mont.  Fort  Collins  and  other  cities  in  the  state  sent  delegations  to 
join  in  the  exercises  of  the  day  and  evening.  Mayor  George  M. 
Houston,  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  Mr  Greeley  and  a  true  colonist, 
had  sent  letters  to  leading  people  inviting  them  to  assist  in  honoring 
the  centenary  of  the  great  man  who  had  done  so  much  to  make  the 
colony  a  success.  He  also  set  on  foot  a  movement  for  erecting  a 
monument  to  Mr  Greeley. 

The  result  was  a  general  holiday,  with  schools  closed  and  business 
of  every  kind  suspended.  It  was  an  ideal  Colorado  day,  the  town 
gay  with  flags  and  bands  of  music.  A  notable  feature  was  the 
participation  of  schools  and  churches  in  the  celebration.  As  was 
to  be  expected,  the  older  colonists  took  special  delight  and  interest 
in  reviewing  and  living  over  again  their  early  labors  at  town-planning 
and  city-building  and  recalling  with  pride  the  stupendous  growth 
and  success  of  their  colony. 

Among  the  notable  citizens  who  came  to  the  colony  with  Greeley 
and  who  took  part  in  the  celebration  were  Oliver  Howard,  70  years 
old;  Henry  T.  West,  87;  Charles  A.  White,  74;  John  Leary,  who 
is  in  his  80th  year;  and  the  following,  all  of  whom  are  over  70: 
Richard  Armstrong.  Mr  and  Mrs  W.  M.  Darling,  Ovid  Plumb.  Dr 
G.  Law,  M.  B.  Knowles  and  George  W.  Fisk.  In  all  there  are  about 
75  of  the  original  colonists  now  living. 

Professor  R.  W.  Bullock  talked  to  the  pupils  of  the  upper  grades 
in  the  morning  at  the  high  school  exercises,  and  in  the  afternooti 
Mr  D.  D.  Hugh  talked  to  the  children  of  the  lower  grades.  Special 
evening  exercises  were  held  in  the  Alethodist  Church,  the  largest 
church  in  town,  where  the  principal  speeches  were  delivered  in 
eulogy  of  Mr  Greeley's  wonderful  life  of  achievement.  First  in 
morning  exercises  was  Mayor  Houston's  address  to  the  pupils  of 
the  schools  of  Greeley,  who  were  assembled  in  the  auditorium  of 
the  high  school. 

ADDRESS  BY  MAYOR  GEORGE  M.  HOUSTON 

A  year  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  of  speaking  to  you  on  the  general 
topic,  "  Seeing  Visions."  In  talking  today  about  the  man  we  love 
and  revere,  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  the  homely  virtues  of  this 

81 


82  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

plain  and  splendid  American  can  best  be  appreciated  under  the  title, 
"  The  Great  Heart."  And  therefore,  what  I  shall  say  to  you  of 
"  The  Great  Heart,"  is  in  my  mind  truly  and  directly  biographical 
touching  the  illustrious  commoner  —  the  plain  American  citizen  for 
whom  our  town  is  named. 

We  have  been  told  that  biography  is  the  best  history,  and  so  it 
is.  In  fact,  if  \vc  could  get  true  biographies,  we  should  have  true 
histories.  Much  of  history,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  is  untrustworthy, 
and  many  so-called  warriors  and  statesmen  have  been  eulogized  in 
history,  too  often  because  they  had  biographers  whose  business  it 
was  to  make  reputation  greater  than  manhood  and  character. 

Horace  Greeley  was  not  that  kind  of  man.  He  told  the  truth  as 
he  saw  it,  and  would  not  swerve  from  what  he  deemed  the  righteous 
course  to  win  any  man's  favor.  His  integrity  and  love  of  justice 
and  fair  play  rise  to  mountain  heights,  compared  with  the  things 
that  are  so  often  referred  to,  as  Greeley's  peculiar  ways  and  dis- 
regard of  personal  appearance  and  dress.  As  the  years  pass,  the 
memory  of  alleged  eccentricities  fades,  leaving  his  noble  character 
and  moral  greatness ;  his  genius  and  infinite  humanity  growing 
brighter  and  brighter  on  the  pages  of  history. 

Mr  Greeley  was  bitterly  criticised  because  he  made  himself  ob- 
noxious to  certain  political  associates  in  Congress,  who  had  little 
sympathy  with  his  demands  for  common,  every-day  honesty  on  the 
part  of  congressmen  who  were  in  the  habit  of  getting  the  largest 
possible  sums  of  money  out  of  the  Government  for  mileage,  in  the 
good  old  days  when  Robinhood  flourished  in  Washington,  and  Jesse 
James  and  his  kind  were  doing  business  in  the  West  —  when  con- 
tractors were  looting  right  and  left  for  the  benefit  of  themselves 
and  their  political  allies  in  the  national  capital. 

My  young  friends,  I  should  fail  miserably  in  my  duty  if  I  did 
not  call  your  attention  to  the  real  statesmen  of  our  country,  the  real 
statesmen  of  today,  who  are  the  direct  descendants  of  that  glorious 
type  of  men,  of  whom  Horace  Greeley  was  the  head,  in  the  New 
York  Tribune,  in  the  sixties  and  early  seventies,  men  who  had  con- 
victions and  were  not  afraid  to  call  a  spade  a  spade. 

When  Thomas  Jefiferson  was  recounting  the  incidents  of  his 
own  life,  he  made  small  mention  of  the.  to  him,  insignificant  fact 
tliat  he  was  the  author  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and 
of  the  facts  that  he  was  sent  on  missions  of  state  to  foreign  courts, 
and  was  twice  made  President  of  his  country;  but  the  far-seeing 
statesman  felt  himself  not  innnodest  in  asking  credit  for  the  fact 
that  he  had  added  to  the  agricultural  wealth  of  the  country,  by  the 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  83 

introduction  of  new  plants,  by  the  purchase  of  the  Mississippi  val- 
ley, and  by  securing  in  the  Government  a  change  in  the  law  of 
descent  of  property,  so  that  lands  held  by  the  father  should  descend 
equally  to  all  his  children,  and  not  entirely  to  the  eldest  offspring. 

In  short,  the  author  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  a 
good  farmer,  and  though,  in  the  language  of  John  Lord,  "  Jefferson 
held  the  readiest  pen  in  America,"  he  found  his  supreme  interest  in 
the  ways  of  the  land  and  the  husbandman.  Likewise  Horace  Gree- 
ley, a  vigorous  writer  and  clear  thinker,  saw  above  all  the  fog  of 
schemes  in  legislative  finance  and  political  chicanery,  the  real  sources 
of  his  country's  wealth  and  happiness  in  the  labor  and  fostering  care 
of  the  plain  American  farmer. 

Horace  Greeley  knew  that  our  greatest  victories  were  to  be  won 
amid  the  arts  of  peace,  from  well-tilled  fields  and  honestly  con- 
ducted business,  not  on  battle  fields  with  shouting  captains  and 
roaring  guns.  I  suspect  that  he  was  much  like  our  own  David 
Boyd,  long  a  colony  trustee,  to  whom  the  colony  owes  so  much  — 
a  man  impatient  with  shams,  vigorous  and  fearless  in  a  good  fight, 
and  thinking  less  of  victory  than  the  joy  of  being  right,  only  pray- 
ing for  sunshine  and  good  crops ;  not  too  careful  about  the  sound 
of  a  phrase ;  not  too  much  worried  over  baggy  pantaloons  or  frowzy 
hair.  David  Boyd  was  terribly  concerned  about  honest  results; 
deadlv  in  earnest  for  the  success  of  a  worthy  friend,  a  poor,  down- 
trodden toiler  on  land  or  sea ;  a  true  and  undying  friend  of  true 
men  and  women  ;  of  animals  in  the  field  and  birds  in  the  air. 

Manv.  I  know,  will  remember  Mr  Greeley  as  somewhat  eccentric ; 
but,  when  I  think  of  it,  there  at  once  arises  a  picture  of  those  days 
of  '60  and  '61.  when  the  country  was  swept  by  the  great  conflict, 
when  manv  great  souls  were  tried  in  that  storm  of  passion  and  hate ; 
and  then  I  see  the  later  days  when  the  war  had  spent  itself,  and 
peace  once  more  dawned  on  the  land.  Init  the  cemeteries  and  hos- 
jiitals  were  full  of  the  dead  and  dying,  treasuries  and  granaries  were 
empty,  millions  of  homes  dark  and  desolate  and  the  nation  filled  with 
bitterness. 

Then  began  the  long  years  of  atonement  and  forgetfulness.  The 
hour  had  come  for  reconstruction  and  conciliation.  Horace  Greeley 
welcomed  the  southern  people  with  outstretched  arms.  No  matter 
what  critics  and  enemies  may  have  thought  of  him  in  the  past,  all 
agreed  that  in  the  crisis  of  nuich  opposed  reconciliation,  his  acts 
showed  that  he  was  a  great  man.  Greatness  is  somewhat  hard  to 
define,  and  still  harder  to  recognize  fully.  We  may  be  entertaining 
true  greatness,  right  here  in  our  own  town,  and  yet  with  our  im- 


84  THE    UNIVRRSrTV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

I)erfect  mental  vision,  may  entirely  overlook  the  budding  genius  of 
today  who  may  astonish  the  world  tomorrow. 

I  think  that  the  surest  test  of  human  greatness  lies  in  the  bound- 
lessness of  magnanimity  and  forgiveness.  Napoleon  was  a  great 
general,  great  lawmaker,  great  engineer  and  even  great  literary 
man  and  financier,  and,  we  will  admit,  a  great  emperor,  as  rulers  go ; 
but  1  shall  have  to  agree  with  Wendell  Phillips,  that  he  who  showed 
no  mercy  to  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  was  not  a  great  man.  And  by 
the  same  test  I  shall  say  that  Horace  Greeley,  who  could  so  far 
forget  the  fearful  and  bitter  past  and  his  merciless  assaults  on  the 
southern  leaders  of  the  slave  power  as  to  sign  the  bail  bond  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  was  indeed  a  great  man. 

Marcus  Cato  admonished  the  Roman  youth  against  the  evils  of 
passion  and  wasteful  luxury,  only  to  spoil  the  lesson  by  his  ever 
famous  "  Carthage  must  be  destroyed,"  but  our  good  Horace  Gree- 
ley was  faithful  to  a  more  righteous  star,  and  he  pursued  the  con- 
sistent course  of  a  man  worthy  to  be,  as  he  was,  a  great  adviser  of 
his  countrymen,  and  set  the  example  then  so  much  needed,  of  for- 
getting past  wrongs,  and  becoming  himself  absorbed  and  thoroughly 
busy  with  the  duties  of  the  new  day. 

His  was  the  great  heart  that  would  let  bygones  be  bygones,  and 
help  foolish  and  mistaken  partisans  begin  a  new  life  and  forget 
past  grievances  in  the  triumphs  of  brotherhood  and  love.  It  was 
the  inspiration  of  Horace  Greeley's  teachings  in  the  New  York 
Trilnine  and  on  the  platform,  that  has  caused  these  fields  to  be 
plowed.  Men  like  Fremont,  the  Pathfinder,  Kit  Carson,  the  scout 
and  guide,  and  Custer,  the  great  warrior,  little  dreamed  that  these 
dry,  desolate  plains  would  some  day  become  even  more  fruitful  and 
productive  than  the  luxuriant  fields  of  their  boyhood. 

Mr  Greeley  was  a  far-seeing,  practical  man,  and  was  among  the 
first  to  warn  us  that  the  soil  could  be  abused  and  robbed  of  its 
fertility ;  even  in  Colorado,  that  it  was  our  heritage,  and  not  to 
be  wasted,  but  to  be  renewed  and  strengthened  for  those  to  come 
after  us.  He  incited  no  youth  to  seek  glory  at  the  cannon's  mouth, 
but  rather  to  follow  the  ways  that  lead  to  prosperity  and  happiness. 
If  it  is  true  that  a  man's  spirit,  though  lost  to  its  former  habitation, 
has  been  lent  to  those  who  survive,  there  is  no  place  so  fitting  to 
retain  and  domicile  the  spirit  of  Horace  Greelev  as  this  town  and 
community;  and  I  am  convinced  that,  were  he  alive  today,  he  would 
be  profoundly  happy  on  his  one  hundredth  birthday  to  behold  a 
city  and  countryside  so  typical  of  his  ideals,  a  place  of  charming 
homes  and   fruitful  gardens,  brought  to  perfection  here  in  what 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  85 

had  been  one  of  nature's  neglected  places,  now  a  marvel  of  fertility 
and  beauty. 

Mayor  Houston  read  a  paper  prepared  at  his  request  by  Ralph 
Meeker,  telling  how  the  Greeley  colony  came  to  be  founded  by  his 
father,  Nathan  C.  Meeker,  and  how  Mr  Greeley  gave  the  enter- 
prise his  powerful  editorial  support  in  the  New  York  Tribune, 
and  unswervingly  stood  by  the  movement  until  his  death.  As  Ralph 
Meeker  was  the  original  secretary  of  the  colony,  and  attended  all 
the  meetings  held  in  Cooper  Institute  during  the  memorable  winter 
of  its  organization  in  1869,  he  was  able  to  tell  the  true  story  of 
how  that  successful  colony  was  formed  and  financed,  as  if  by 
magic,  and  by  Mr  Greeley's  support  was  made  the  greatest  colonial 
success  since  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  on  Plymouth  Rock. 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  GREELEY,  COLORADO 

BY  RALPH  MEEKER 

George  M.  Houston,  Mayor  of  Greeley,  Colorado: 

In  answer  to  your  request  for  a  paper  on  the  founding  of  Greeley 
and  its  colony,  to  be  read  at  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  Horace 
Greeley's  birth,  I  would  say  that  the  proposition  to  erect  a  monu- 
ment to  his  memory  in  the  town  bearing  his  distinguished  name, 
should  receive  the  support  of  all  citizens  and  friends  of  the  colony, 
far  and  near.  Horace  Greeley  was  an  honest  man,  unselfishly 
devoted  to  the  country  and  all  humanity.  One  of  his  strongest 
characteristics  was  his  detestation  of  falsehood  and  misrepresenta- 
tion of  every  kind. 

Were  Mr  Greeley  alive  today,  he  would  be  the  first  to  resent 
the  statement,  officially  sent  out  from  the  town  of  Greeley,  and 
widely  circulated  through  the  West,  that  he  was  the  originator  and 
founder  of  the  Greeley  colony,  and  that  he  sent  out  N.  C.  Meeker  of 
the  Tribune's  editorial  staff,  to  act  as  director  and  general  promoter 
of  the  enterprise,  in  line  with  his  famous  saying,  "  Go  West,  young 
man,  go  West." 

The  facts  are  that  Mr  Greeley  knew  nothing  of  Mr  Meeker's 
plan  to  start  a  colony  in  Colorado,  until  informed  by  one  of  the 
Tribune  staff,  on  Mr  Greeley's  return  from  a  trip  to  the  country, 
and  while  Mr  Meeker  was  absent  at  his  home  in  New  Jersey.  But 
Mr  Greeley  instantly  favored  the  proposed  colony  enterprise.  Both 
were  ardent  advocates  of  the  coo])erative  plan  of  country  and  subur- 
ban settlements,  and  both  had  been  active  members  of  Fourier 
phalanxes   that   were   early   established   in   the   United    States,   Mr 


86  rill'.   I  .\i\  i:ksiTV   of  the  state  oe  new   vork 

(jreelcy  being  a  incinbcr  of  the  Nurtli  American  Phalanx  at  Red 
Bank,  N.  J.,  and  Mr  Meeker  an  officer  in  the  TrunihuU  I'halanx 
at  Braceville,  ().,  some  twelve  miles  west  of  Warren,  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Yotnigstown  region.  It  was  while  Mr  Meeker  was 
connected  with  this  phalanx  in  1843-44,  that  he  first  became  ac- 
quainted with  Mr  Greeley  through  correspondence  regarding  the 
establishment  of  the  phalanx  at  what  was  then  known  as  Brace- 
ville. From  that  day  Mr  Meeker  was  a  warm  admirer  of  Horace 
Greeley. 

From  that  time,  four  or  live  years  before  the  Mexican  War,  my 
father's  ambition  was  some  day  to  found  a  colony  in  the  Far  West, 
free  from  certain  impractical  features  of  Fourierism.  It  was  not 
until  the  Lincoln  campaign,  followed  by  the  election  of  Mr  Lincoln, 
that  Mr  Meeker  renewed  his  correspondence  with  Mr  Greeley, 
which  led  to  the  publication  in  the  Tribtme  of  a  series  of  letters 
from  Dongola,  111.,  concerning  political,  industrial  and  social  con- 
ditions in  the  Southwest,  and  particularly  in  southern  Illinois,  then 
chiefly  in  sympathy  with  the  South. 

Mr  Meeker's  graphic  descriptions  and  quaint  observations  on 
the  impoverished  conditions  of  that  part  of  the  country,  together 
with  his  pen  pictures  of  the  home  life  of  the  natives,  most  bitterly 
opposed  to  Lincoln  and  the  war,  won  favor  in  the  Tribune  office, 
and  Mr  Greeley  telegraphed  Albert  D.  Richardson,  a  Tribune 
stockholder  and  war  correspondent  then  at  Cairo,  "  We  want  to 
keep  N.  C.  Meeker."  Mr  Richardson,  a  warm  friend,  was  there 
organizing  the  Tribune's  war  news  service  in  the  Southwest,  and 
Mr  Meeker  was  the  Tribune's  only  correspondent  at  the  Battle  of 
Fort  Donelson,  wdien  General  Buckner  surrendered  to  General 
Grant. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Horace  Greeley  called  Mr  Meeker  to  the 
editorial  stafif  of  the  Tribune.  He  was  given  wide  latitude,  and 
wrote  editorials  on  social  and  industrial  topics,  besides  writing  up 
the  various  noted  communities  of  the  United  States,  from  Oneida 
to  Salt  Lake,  with  its  wonderful  irrigation  system.  While  making 
his  first  trip  to  the  Mormon  settlements  in  Utah,  he  was  snow- 
bound. Trains  on  the  Union  Pacific  were  blockaded  by  the  heavy 
snows  of  the  early  spring  in  1869,  and  travel  was  temporarily  sus- 
pended west  of  Laramie.  So  Mr  Meeker  took  advantage  of  the 
delay  to  visit  Colorado  and  the  already  famous  mining  city  of 
Denver  —  then  without  a  railroad  or  many  inhabitants. 

The  route  was  along  the  foothills  south,  by  way  of  La  Porte 
and  Boulder.     There  was  little  or  no  snow  on  the  sunny  slopes  to 


RALPH    ilEEKER 

First  secretary  of  Greeley  colony,  Colorado 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  8/ 

impede  the  four-horse  stage  coach  driven  at  "  Overland  Express  " 
speed.  He  was  so  charmed  with  the  scene,  the  shining  peaks  of 
the  Snowy  Range,  the  Great  Plains  stretching  from  the  Rockies 
to  the  Missouri  river,  with  the  exhilarating  ozone  of  the  mountains 
that,  when  he  returned  to  New  York,  he  told  his  family  that  he 
was  going  to  start  a  colony  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  of 
Colorado. 

Mr  Greeley  was  absent  at  the  time,  but  a  few  days  later  at  Del- 
monico's  he  said  to  John  Russell  Young,  then  managing  editor  of 
the  Tribune,  "  I  hear  that  Meeker  is  going  to  take  a  colony  to  Col- 
orado. Tell  him  to  go  ahead,  and  I  will  back  him  in  the  Tribune. 
T  only  wish  that  I  could  go  myself."  Mr  Meeker  was  grateful  for 
the  message,  and  soon  issued  a  call  in  the  Tribune  inviting  families 
to  join  the  colony. 

Now,  as  the  proceedings  of  the  meetings  held  in  Cooper  Institute, 
following  the  call,  were  published  in  the  Tribune,  the  Herald  and 
other  newspapers  from  time  to  time,  the  facts  as  to  the  founding  of 
the  colony  are  a  matter  of  public  record,  together  with  Horace 
Greeley's  editorials  in  behalf  of  Mr  Meeker's  venture.  He  was 
not  only  deeply  grateful  to  Mr  Greeley  for  accepting  the  ofifice  of 
treasurer  of  the  colony,  but  at  the  organization  meeting,  Mr  Meeker 
refused  to  have  the  colony  bear  his  name,  as  was  suggested  by  the 
members  of  the  committee.  He  insisted  that  the  honor  should  go 
to  Mr  Greeley,  who  then  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  organization. 
Subscriptions  came  in  rapidly,  and  in  a  few  weeks  after  the  locating 
committee  announced  that  a  site  had  been  selected,  nearly  a  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  was  in  the  treasury  for  purchasing  the  lands, 
and  building  the  necessary  irrigation  canals  to  water  the  farms  and 
gardens. 

As  before  stated,  Horace  Greeley  detested  liars  and  pretenders, 
and,  were  he  alive  today,  he  would  pay  his  respects  to  certain  state- 
ments in  so-called  history  in  regard  to  the  founding  of  the  Greeley 
colony.  But,  as  Mr  Greeley  once  wrote,  "  No  man  can  overtake  a 
lie,  which  ten  men  will  read,  where  one  reads  the  truth  and  be- 
lieves it." 

I  do  not  blame  those  who  have  honestly  been  led  astray  in  this 
matter,  but  there  were  certain  so-called  leading  citizens  who  crowded 
into  the  colony  in  after  years,  for  what  there  was  in  it  for  them- 
selves and  the  political  adventurers  working  for  graft  and  rum  on 
the  outside  who  knew  better  and  yet  continued  their  misrepresenta- 
tions simply  "  to  get  even  "  with  a  dead  man,  who  had  established 
a  successful  colony  on  an  antiwhiskey  basis  with  all  that  sobriety 


88  THE    UN  1  VERS  IT  \'    oF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

and  industry  stand  for.  Some  ten  years  later,  when  the  head  of  the 
lirst  Greeley  board  of  trade  sent  circulars  broadcast,  stating  that 
the  colony  was  founded  by  Horace  Greeley,  and  omitted  all  ref- 
erence to  N.  G.  Meeker,  or  the  historical  facts  in  the  case,  i  asked 
him  what  he  meant  by  such  statements  —  robbing  a  dead  man  of  his 
honors.  "  Oh,"  he  sneered,  "  if  Greeley  ditln't  found  the  colony, 
he  ought  to  have  done  it,  so  it's  all  right  any  way."  Such  ignorance 
and  mendacity  react  on  the  town,  for  there  are  important  men 
and  women  alive  today  who  know  the  truth  as  it  appears  in  the  files 
of  the  Tribune  and  other  New  York  papers  of  the  years  1869-71. 

And  here  is  myself  for  instance;  my  own  testimony.  1  was  the 
th-st  secretary  of  the  colony  in  New  York ;  I  signed  the  receipts 
for  the  $90,000  that  had  been  received  by  the  cashier  of  the  Tribune 
office.  Daniel  Frohman,  who  was  then  in  the  business  office  of  the 
Tribune,  gave  me  much  assistance  in  keeping  the  records,  handling 
from  thirty  to  a  hundred  letters  a  day,  which  had  to  be  answered  in 
the  absence  of  Mr  Meeker,  the  president,  then  traveling  with  the 
location  committee  in  Colorado.  Often  I  have  been  asked,  "  What 
is  the  matter  with  those  Colorado  liars?  Can't  they  read?  Don't 
they  believe  the  records  and  Horace  Greeley's  own  editorial  testi- 
mony as  to  the  origin  of  the  colony?" 

I  suppose  that  human  nature  is  the  same  in  all  ages  and  lands. 
Honest,  decent  men  are  outnumbered  by  self-seeking  rascals.  The 
game  of  grab  and  misrepresentation,  like  crooked  politics,  is  popular 
with  the  average  business  highwayman,  east  and  west.  As  Mr 
Greeley  said  of  the  breed,  "  They  prefer  lies  to  the  truth."  Wlieii 
Richelieu  founded  Odessa  in  Russia,  the  men  to  whom  he  refused 
crooked  contracts  eventually  got  into  power  and  forced  him  to 
leave  the  city.  As  he  walked  down  the  granite  steps  he  had  built, 
leading  down  to  the  sea,  to  take  ship  for  France,  he  carried  all  his 
worldly  possessions  in  a  hand  bag,  and  finally  died  in  Paris  a  broken- 
hearted man.  Today  Odessa,  the  Chicago  of  Russia,  is  filled  with 
monuments  in  honor  of  Richelieu. 

My  father  originated  and  founded  the  Greeley  colony,  and  raised 
the  money  that  made  it  a  success.  Without  that  money  and  Mr 
Greeley's  friendship  there  would  have  been  no  colony.  Mr  Meeker 
spent  all  his  own  funds  in  the  work,  and  borrowed  more  to  help 
out  in  making  improvements  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  leaving 
others  to  occupy  the  choice  sites  for  their  homes.  One  street  was 
named  after  him,  but  all  the  streets  named  by  my  father  were 
changed  to  numbered  streets  by  partisan  officeholders,  chiefly  later 
arrivals,  and  more  or  less  opposed  to  the  ideas  of  the  old  colonists.  A 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  89 

new  municipal  system  of  town  government  in  accordance  with  the 
state  laws  enabled  the  office-grabbing  clique  partly  in  sympathy 
with  the  whiskey  interests,  to  show  the  old  colonists  that  a  too 
strictly  temperance  town  was  not  popular  with  up-to-date  poli- 
ticians. 

But  in  addition  to  all  this,  Mr  Meeker  was  never  forgiven  by  the 
Republican  machine  politicians  of  Colorado  for  swinging  a  majority 
of  the  colonists  for  Horace  Greeley  in  the  presidential  campaign 
of  1872.  That  he  should  make  his  Republican  newspaper,  the 
Greeley  Tribune,  an  independent  paper,  and  work  in  an  "  unholy 
alliance  "  with  the  hated  Democrats,  to  elect  Horace  Greeley  Presi- 
dent, was  little  less  than  a  crime ;  and,  when  the  ticket  was  defeated, 
the  machine  Republicans,  overwhelmingly  entrenched  behind  corrupt 
politics  in  Denver,  always  shouting  for  the  old  flag  and  an  appro- 
priation, had  no  further  use  for  Mr  Meeker;  and,  when  it  was 
proposed  to  place  his  portrait  among  those  of  the  other  pioneers 
in  the  State  Capitol,  it  was  promptly  voted  down  by  the  political 
ring  then  in  control  of  state  politics.  They  forgot  that  the  territorv 
was  strongly  Democratic  until  Mr  Meeker  brought  his  colony  there 
and  won  a  handsome  Republican  majority  for  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  Colorado. 

Later  came  the  tragedy  of  White  river,  when  Mr  Meeker  los<"  his 
life  in  the  Ute  massacre  while  trying  to  educate  the  Indians  in  the 
ways  of  industry  and  civilization.  Such  was  the  fate  of  Colorado's 
best  friend;  not  only  founder  of  its  most  successful  colony  but  the 
first  to  advocate  practical  upland  irrigation  and  beet  sugar  produc- 
tion in  Colorado,  as  the  files  of  the  newspapers  and  records  of  that 
day  will  show. 

Happily,  more  true  men  came  to  the  colony  than  corrupt  and 
worthless  ones,  and  the  original  spirit  of  the  organizers  continued  to 
sway  public  sentiment,  until  the  gospel  of  thrift  and  decency  became 
thoroughly  established  with  the  aid  of  live  churches  and  good 
schools. 

ADDRESS  OF  PROFESSOR  OLIVER  HOWARD 

Professor  Oliver  Howard,  one  of  the  faithful  original  colonists, 
who  pursued  his  literary  studies  while  carrying  on  a  dairy  and  fruit 
farm,  who  wrote  stories  for  the  Youth's  Companion,  and  finally 
served  as  editor  of  the  Greeley  Tribune,  prepared  an  address  on 
Mr  Greeley,  which  was  given  as  follows : 

One  hundred  years  ago  today  this  3d  day  of   February   191 1, 


90  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Horace  Greeley  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amherst,  New  Hampshire. 
He  was  a  frail  little  fellow  and  his  parents  were  fearful  that  they 
could  not  raise  him;  but  he  lived  to  become  a  strong  man  and  as  the 
founder  of  the  New  York  Tribune  became  one  of  the  greatest  edi- 
tors that  ever  lived,  his  influence  extending  into  the  homes  of 
millions. 

While  people  in  other  sections  of  the  country  may  think  of  him 
as  a  great  journalist,  we  of  Union  colony,  and  the  city  of  Greeley, 
Colorado,  have  reason  to  think  of  him  and  speak  of  him  today  as 
our  "  Patron  Saint  "  who  not  only  gave  us  his  name,  but  who  sym- 
pathized with  our  upbuilding  and  watched  our  progress  with  a  hope 
that  was  an  inspiration  to  our  people. 

During  the  last  three  years  of  Mr  Greeley's  life  he  did  that  which 
will  forever  be  remembered  with  gratitude  by  the  inhabitants  of 
this  city  of  our  ardent  affections  that  bears  the  name  of  the  great 
editor. 

While  Mr  Greeley  did  not  originate  the  scheme  for  the  founding 
of  Union  colony  and  the  city  of  Greeley  in  northern  Colorado,  it 
may  not  be  too  much  to  say  that  but  for  the  help  and  sympathy  he 
gave  to  Nathan  C.  Meeker,  the  projector  of  the  enterprise,  there 
would  have  been  no  colony  and  no  city.  It  was  the  great  New  York 
Tribune  that  told  a  vast  number  of  people  that  N.  C.  Meeker  wished 
to  found  an  ideal  community  consisting  of  "  temperate,  moral,  in- 
dustrious, intelligent  men  who  would  like  to  make  homes  in  the  far 
West."  "  The  persons  with  whom  I  would  be  willing  to  associate," 
Mr  Meeker  continued  in  the  Tribune  call,  "  must  be  temperance 
men  and  ambitious  to  establish  good  society ;  and  those  who  are 
idle,  immoral,  intemperate,  or  inefficient  need  not  apply  for  they  will 
not  be  received ;  nor  would  they  feel  at  home." 

Mr  Greeley  saw  in  this  proposed  association  of  earnest,  efficient 
people  the  hope  of  establishing  a  community  uncursed  by  many  of 
the  vices  that  civilization  seems  an  heir  to;  and  so  with  words  of 
encouragement,  by  the  loan  of  money  to  Mr  Meeker,  and  more 
than  all  by  the  generous  fostering  of  the  project  in  his  great  paper, 
the  colony  became  a  remarkable  success.  On  the  12th  of  October 
1870,  Mr  Greeley  paid  a  visit  to  the  town  named  in  his  honor. 
Nearly  the  whole  population  of  the  place  welcomed  him  with  three 
rousing  cheers.  Says  Captain  Boyd  in  his  valuable  "  History  of 
Greeley  " : 

"  He  was  conducted  to  the  Greeley  Tribune  building,  where  it  was 
arranged  he  should  address  the  people.  A  hasty  stand  was  erected 
in  front  of  the  office  and  from  this  he  talked  to  the  people  in  a  calm. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  9I 

fatherly  way  giving  them  what  he  believed  good,  practical  advice. 
He  found  fault  that  so  little  had  been  done  in  the  country  compared 
with  the  town." 

In  the  beginning  Mr  Greeley  had  been  made  the  treasurer  of  the 
colony  and  out  of  consideration  for  the  favors  that  he  had  shown 
the  colonists  and  the  work  he  had  done  in  their  behalf,  certain  par- 
cels of  land  were  donated  to  him. 

After  the  death  of  Mr  Greeley.  November  29.  1872,  an  appeal 
was  made  to  the  town  of  Greeley  to  contribute  toward  a  monument 
in  Greenwood  cemetery,  New  York,  to  be  erected  to  the  memory 
of  our  patron  saint.  Mr  Meeker  replied  that  his  city  could  con- 
tribute nothing  to  the  proposed  monument,  being  already  engaged 
in  raising  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Horace  Greeley  greater 
than  could  ever  be  raised  elsewhere. 

\\'hat  Captain  Boyd  has  so  eloquently  said  regarding  the  founder 
of  this  colony  and  city,  N.  C.  Meeker,  might  as  properly  be  para- 
phrased of  the  man  who  aided  our  people  by  word,  sympathy  and 
money  and  for  whom  the  city  was  named.  They  are  raising  to  him 
a  monument  more  enduring  than  brass.  Every  brick  block,  every 
church,  every  schoolhouse,  every  beautiful  residence  erected  in 
Greeley,  is  a  monument  to  him.  Every  tree  planted,  every  lawn 
clothed  in  grass  and  bordered  with  flowers,  every  field  waving  with 
grain  in  and  around  Greeley  is  a  monument  to  Horace  Greeley. 
Every  bird  that  sings  in  the  branches  of  our  trees  that  border  the 
fields  and  every  bee  that  hums  in  our  clover  lawns  or  fields  of  alfalfa, 
sings  or  hums  a  requiem  to  Horace  Greeley. 

On  the  23d  of  November  1872,  just  six  days  before  his  death, 
Mr  Greeley  wrote  for  the  last  time  to  Mr  Meeker.  That  letter, 
written  by  a  dying  man.  was  one  to  touch  the  heart  of  every  citizen 
of  the  place  bearing  the  name  of  this  friendly  sponsor.  At  that 
moment  Mr  Greeley  must  have  been  sufifering  as  few  men  have  ever 
been  called  to  suflfer.  The  sale  of  his  great  history  had  ceased 
because  he  signed  the  bail  bond  that  set  Jefiferson  Davis  free ;  he 
had  met  defeat,  terrible  defeat,  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency 
of  the  United  States ;  he  had  campaigned  over  a  vast  territory,  mak- 
ing marvelous  political  speeches,  with  little  time  for  rest  or  recuper- 
ation ;  numbers  of  his  old  friends  had  turned  against  him ;  never 
was  a  public  man  more  cruelly  caricatured  than  the  great  editor 
by  Thomas  Nast ;  the  dearest  aspiration  of  his  life  had  met  with 
swift  and  terrible  defeat ;  he  had  watched  by  the  side  of  his  dying 
wife  till  for  a  month  he  had  not  slept  one  hour  in  twenty- four;  he 
knew  that  his  brain  was  on  fire,  for  he  had  said  that  unless  his  wife 


92  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

passed  away  soon  he  would  reach  a  grave  before  her.  In  the  midst 
of  all  his  disappointments  and  sorrows,  knowing  full  well  that  his 
end  was  near,  he  could  still  think  to  say  "  precious,  trustful,  hope- 
ful words."     Here  is  the  letter: 

Nov.  22,  1872 

Friend  Meeker :  I  have  yours  of  the  7th  instant.  I  presume  you 
have  already  drawn  on  me  for  the  $1000  to  buy  land.  If  you  have 
not,  please  do  so  at  once.  I  have  not  much  money  and  probably 
never  shall  have ;  but  I  believe  in  Union  colony  and  you.  and  con- 
sider this  a  good  investment  for  my  children. 

Horace  Greeley 

This  is  a  good  time  to  dedicate  ourselves  anew  to  the  splendid 
principles  that  he  enunciated  at  the  founding  of  our  colony.  He 
believed  in  total  abstinence  from  intoxicants.  PTe  dared  to  stand 
fearlessly  with  the  temperance  party  when  ridicule  was  in  the  air. 
Never  was  there  a  man  with  a  more  sublime  courage.  The  stand  he 
took  for  the  release  of  Jefferson  Davis  from  prison  he  must  have 
known  would  be  generally  unpopular  with  the  ex-soldiery  of  the 
North,  as  was  his  advocacy  of  general  and  complete  amnesty  for 
the  men  who  had  so  lately  tried  to  destroy  the  government  he  loved 
so  well ;  and  yet  time  has  proved  that  he  was  in  the  right. 

Mr  Greeley's  religious  convictions  were  as  settled  as  any  he  held. 
He  was  a  Universalist.  He  illustrated  the  beneficence  of  the  great 
Ruler  of  the  earth  by  drawing  from  human  history  the  truth  that 
love  and  forgiveness  are  more  potent  than  hatred  and  revenge. 
From  this  thought  it  was  but  a  step  for  him  to  conclude  that  it 
would  be  impossible  for  the  Eternal  Father  to  condenm  any  of  his 
children  to  never-ending  torment. 

George  W.  Bungay,  who  knew  him  well,  says  of  him:  "  He  had 
no  peer  in  the  realm  of  newspaperdom.  Horace  Greeley  was  him- 
self a  king.  He  dared  to  do  right.  He  wanted  the  slave  to  have 
a  fair  chance.  He  was  the  brave  champion  of  the  rights  of  man 
irrespective  of  color,  creed,  condition  or  nationality.  He  was  a 
political  reformer,  excellent  writer,  philanthropist  and  agricultural 
teacher.  The  weekly  Tribune  was  read  each  week  by  more  than 
200,000  people.  Mr  Greeley  was  happy  in  the  consciousness  that  he 
was  receiving  the  golden  opinions  of  all  sorts  of  people." 

Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  the  educators  of  today,  Horace  Greeley 
commenced  attending  school  at  the  age  of  three,  being  carried,  dur- 
ing bad  weather,  on  his  father's  shoulders.  But  he  had  learned  to 
read  children's  books  considerably  earlier  than  this.  At  his  mother's 
knee  he  had  learned  numerous  poems  and   legends  handed   down 


HORACE    GREELEV    MEMORIAL  93 

from  her  Scotch-Irish  ancestors.  At  the  age  of  four  he  was  able 
to  read  ordinary  books,  it  making  little  ditterence  to  him  whether 
the  book  was  upside  down  or  sidewise.  It  is  told  of  him  that  he 
attended  spelling  schools,  being  even  at  the  age  of  three  a  remark- 
able speller,  and  sometimes  he  would  have  to  be  awakened  from 
sleep  when  it  came  his  turn  to  spell.  He  had  no  legal  right  to  attend 
a  certain  school,  but  the  school  committee  passed  a  resolution  that 
no  one  should  be  allowed  to  attend  their  school  from  outside  the 
district  except  Horace  Greeley.  As  his  years  increased  he  read 
everything  he  could  lay  his  hands  upon,  reading  even  while  running 
errands;  and  what  he  read  he  remembered  so  firmly  that  he  came 
to  be  looked  upon  as  authority. 

The  boy  Greeley  was  determined  to  become  a  printer,  and 
offered  his  services  at  a  printing  office  at  the  age  of  eleven  but  was 
refused  as  too  young.  After  various  experiences  in  printing  offices, 
at  the  age  of  twenty  he  entered  New  York  City,  perhaps  in  imitation 
of  Franklin's  uncouth  entrance  into  Philadelphia.  The  parallel  be- 
tween the  two  men  caused  the  poet  W'hittier  to  refer  to  him  as 
"  the  later  Franklin."  He  was  now  a  tall,  slim  youth  with  almost 
white  hair  and  pale  blue  eyes.  He  had  a  habit  of  wearing  his  hat 
on  the  back  of  his  head  that  gave  him  a  decidedly  green  appearance. 
As  to  clothing,  he  hardly  made  a  respectable  appearance,  as  he  gave 
the  greater  part  of  the  money  that  came  into  his  hands  to  his  father, 
who  was  always  in  need  of  it.  After  many  disappointments  the 
shabby  young  printer  was  set  to  work  on  a  polyglot  Bible,  a  job  so 
difficult  that  few  printers  would  stay  with  it.  When  Mr  West,  the 
office  boss,  came  in  he  said  to  the  foreman  :  "  Did  you  hire  that 
fool?"  The  foreman  said  that  this  was  the  best  he  could  do  and 
he  had  to  have  hands.  "  Well,"  said  the  master,  "  pay  him  off  to- 
night and  let  him  go  about  his  business." 

While  the  other  printers  were  tittering  and  making  fun  of  the 
new  printer,  one  of  them  made  three  distinct  daubs  upon  the  flaxen 
hair  of  Greeley  with  printer's  ink.  The  abused  youth  took  no  notice 
whatever  of  this  indignity  but  worked  away  on  his  polyglot  Bible, 
steadily  and  silently.  That  night  the  boss  was  surprised  to  find  that 
young  Greeley  had  done  the  most  correct  work  that  had  yet  been 
done  on  this  unwelcome  job  and  then  there  was  no  thought  of  send- 
ing him  adrift. 

That  night  Horace  spent  an  hour  cleansing  his  dishonored  locks. 
This  incident  of  the  printer's  ink,  and  the  failure  to  resent  the  insult 
with  his  fists  was  characteristic  of  the  boy  and  the  man  ;  for  Horace 
Greeley  when  personally  attacked  was  a  nonresistant  and  meekly 


94  THE    UXUERSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

bowed  his  iiead  to  injuries,  that,  with  many  a  man,  would  have  re- 
sulted in  bloodshed. 

In  1834  Mr  Greeley  began  editing  his  paper,  The  New  Yorker, 
but  after  six  years  it  went  under,  the  firm  owing  him  $10,000,  all 
of  which  was  sunk ;  but  the  debts  continued  to  harass  him,  causing 
him  to  say :  "  For  my  own  part,  and  I  speak  from  sad  experience, 
I  would  rather  be  a  convict  in  State's  prison,  a  slave  in  a  rice  swamp, 
than  to  pass  through  life  under  the  harrow  of  debt." 

In  1841  the  New  York  Tribune  was  started  and  Thomas  Mc- 
Elrath  entering  into  partnership  soon  after,  the  journal  was  soon 
established  on  a  firm  and  paying  basis.  Mr  Greeley  had  definite  opin- 
ions on  all  subjects,  and,  if  he  made  fast  friends,  he  also  made  bitter 
enemies ;  but  the  plan  of  employing  noted  people  to  write  for  the 
Tribune,  such  as  Bayard  Taylor,  Margaret  Fuller,  George  Ripley, 
Charles  A.  Dana  and  Moncure  D.  Conway  made  it  indispensable 
to  intelligent  people  of  all  parties. 

Mr  Greeley  visited  Europe  twice,  acting  once  as  a  judge  at  the 
world's  fair  in  London  and  later  being  pounced  upon  and  sent  to 
prison  for  two  days  while  in  Paris  through  an  unwarranted  attempt 
to  make  him  pay  a  certain  artist  $2500  for  the  breaking  of  a  statue 
at  a  time  when  Mr  Greeley  was  a  director  of  the  world's  fair  at 
New  York  and  hence  claimed  to  be  answerable  for  the  damage  done. 
He  served  for  a  few  months  as  a  representative  in  Congress,  where 
he  created  great  excitement  by  obtaining  the  figures  and  showing 
that  the  congressmen  were  drawing  pay  from  the  treasury  for  mile- 
age by  computing  the  same  by  the  most  roundabout  routes  to  and 
from  Washington ;  he  also  made  a  vigorous  kick  at  the  franking 
abuses,  but  neither  of  these  wrongs  has  ever  been  redressed. 

In  1859  he  crossed  the  continent  by  stage  coach  to  figure  out  the 
possibility  of  a  great  Pacific  railroad,  and  after  visiting  Denver, 
which  then  consisted  of  one  hundred  log  cabins  built  of  cottonwood, 
turned  northward  to  Fort  Laramie,  mentioning  the  crossing  of  the 
Cache  la  Poudre,  and  oddly  enough  claiming  even  then  that  this 
country  would  one  day  be  settled  up. 

In  many  matters  Mr  Greeley  was  the  most  inconsistent  of  men. 
For  instance :  while  decrying  the  running  in  debt,  he  cared  little  for 
money,  and,  although  receiving  in  his  later  life  $10,000  per  annum 
as  editor  of  the  Tribune,  he  seems  to  have  been  unable  to  save 
against  a  rainy  day.  The  amount  of  his  private  charities  no  one 
but  himself  ever  knew,  but  they  must  have  been  very  great.  Men 
who  he  knew  perfectly  well  would  never  repay  him  a  single  cent, 
would  come  and  borrow  of  him  time  after  time.     The  congressman 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  95 

who  had  gambled  his  all  away  or  the  unfortunate  man  of  family 
stranded  in  the  city  would  seek  out  the  great  editor  asking  financial 
aid,  and,  after  Mr  Greeley  had  shown  them  that  their  stories  were 
a  tissue  of  lies,  he  would  hand  out  the  money,  saying:  "  Now  don't 
come  back  again.''  But  many  of  them  were  sure  to  come  again  to 
get  his  money.  There  was  one  worthless  son  of  a  rich  father,  who 
would  no  longer  pay  his  son's  foolish  debts,  who  obtained  in  a 
course  of  years  some  $15,000  of  Mr  Greeley.  Only  in  one  instance 
was  he  ever  repaid  a  loan  and  that  was  $5,  which  upon  investigation 
proved  to  have  been  repaid  him  by  an  insane  man.  And  as  for 
beggars,  Mr  Greeley  said  that  New  York  City  was  the  worst  in  the 
world,  beggars  even  starting  out  with  the  deliberate  intention  of 
begging  money  for  a  farm. 

While  Mr  Greeley  was  clean  in  his  person  he  was  careless  in  his 
dress.  Beethoven  was  not  more  addicted  to  the  bath  than  Mr  Gree- 
ley; but  his  clothing  never  seemed  to  fit.  Still  he  always  considered 
himself  well  dressed.  The  most  absurd  stories  were  told  of  him  on 
purpose  to  annoy  him  and  sure  enough  he  was  annoyed.  One  of 
his  city  editors  made  some  suggestion  about  his  neck-tie,  which  had  a 
fashion  of  slipping  around  under  one  ear.  Said  the  editor :  "  You 
don't  like  my  clothing  and  I  don't  like  your  department.  You'd 
better  attend  to  that  and  leave  me  alone !  " 

There  were  multitudes  of  people  who  actually  believed  that  "  Old 
Horace  "  went  about  with  one  shoe  and  one  boot,  his  pants  tucked 
into  the  boot ;  that  he  daily  dressed  before  a  glass  and  purposely 
disarranged  his  clothing;  that  when  election  returns  came  in,  he 
turned  somersaults  in  his  office.  At  length  the  lies  that  were 
circulated  about  him  became  so  absurd  that  no  one  believed  them. 

Mr  Greeley  married  in  1836  and  was  the  father  of  seven  children, 
only  one  of  whom  survives  him,  his  daughter,  Gabrielle.  In  his 
"  Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life,"  in  the  chapter  entitled  "  My  Dead," 
is  told  the  affecting  story  of  the  loss  of  his  little  six-year-old 
"  Pickie,"  a  charming  little  fellow  as  beautiful  as  he  was  intelligent. 
He  was  attacked  by  Asiatic  cholera  and  died  that  same  day.  Mr 
Greeley  says :  "  When  at  last  the  struggle  ended  with  his  last 
breath,  and  even  his  mother  saw  that  his  eyes  would  never  again 
open  on  the  scenes  of  this  world.  I  knew  that  the  summer  of  my  life 
was  over  and  that  the  breath  of  its  autumn  was  at  hand,  and  that 
my  further  course  must  be  along  the  downhill  of  life." 

This  short  and  imperfect  review  of  the  lifework  of  Mr  Greeley 
will  close  with  an  extract  from  his  writings : 


g6  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

My  life  has  been  busy  and  anxious  but  not  joyless.  ...  I 
have  been  spared  to  see  the  end  of  giant  wrongs  which  I  once 
deemed  invincible  in  this  century,  and  to  note  the  silent  upspringing 
and  growth  of  principles  and  influences  which  I  hail  as  destined  to 
root  out  some  of  the  most  flagrant  and  pervading  evils  that  remain. 

i  reaHzc  tliat  each  generation  is  destined  to  confront  new  and 
peculiar  perils  —  to  wrestle  with  temptations  and  seductions  un- 
known to  its  predecessors ;  yet  I  trust  that  progress  is  a  general  law 
of  our  being  and  that  the  ills  and  woes  of  the  future  shall  be  less 
crushing  than  those  of  the  bloody  and  hateful  past. 

So,  looking  calmly,  yet  humbly,  for  that  close  of  my  mortal  career 
which  can  not  be  far  distant,  1  reverently  thank  God  for  the  bless- 
ings vouchsafed  me  in  the  past;  and,  with  an  awe  that  is  not  fear 
and  a  consciousness  of  demerit  which  does  not  exclude  hope,  await 
the  opening  before  my  steps  of  the  gates  of  the  Eternal  World. 

ADDRESS  OF  COLONEL  CHARLES  A.  WHITE 

Colonel  White  was  unable  to  be  present;  his  address,  read  by  Miss  Bertha 
Whitman,  is  as  follows : 

This  being  the  centennial  of  the  birthday  of  that  great  editor, 
Horace  Greeley,  the  person  after  whom  the  city  of  Greeley  was 
named,  it  is  fitting  and  proper  that  our  schools  should  observe  the 
day  in  paying  tribute  to  his  memory. 

Horace  Greeley  was  born  in  Amherst,  N.  H.,  and  started  in  life 
with  few  opportunities,  yet  he  rose  by  his  own  efforts  to  a  leading 
place  among  the  editors  of  his  time;  and  only  one  editor  belonging 
to  his  class,  Henry  Watterson,  of  the  Louisville  Courier-Journal, 
of  Kentucky,  is  alive  today. 

The  house  in  which  Horace  Greeley  was  born  stands  today  in 
that  little  town  of  Amherst.  It  is  a  one-story  building,  with  a  garret 
unfinished.  The  eaves  can  almost  be  touched  by  a  tall  man  standing 
on  tiptoes.  The  building  has  never  been  painted,  or  had  not  been 
in  1889,  when  I  stood  near  the  ground  upon  which  it  stands.  It 
is  the  intention  to  honor  this  landmark  this  year  by  a  monument, 
and  the  old  house  of  a  poor  boy  who  worked  himself  to  the  top 
rung  of  the  ladder  of  newspaper  work  will  ever  be  an  object  of 
interest  in  the  years  to  come. 

Horace  Greeley  was  one  of  the  editors  who  could  stand  at  the 
case,  compose  and  set  up  the  editorials.  How  many  editors  are 
there  today  who  can  do  it? 

The  interest  that  Mr  Greeley  took  in  the  success  of  the  Union 
colony  of  Colorado,  through  the  columns  of  the  New  York  Tribune, 
made  the  little  settlement  of  Greeley  better  known  in  the  United 
States  than  many  of  its  cities  of  50,000  people  or  more.     There  can 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  97 

be  no  doubt  that  to  Mr  Greeley's  interest  in  our  colony  enterprise 
may  be  attributed,  in  a  measure,  the  success  that  attended  our  efforts. 
This  beautiful  city  of  Greeley  today  is  a  monument  everlasting  to 
that  great  editor  and  patriot  whose  name  it  bears.  We  would  show 
our  hearty  appreciation  for  the  generous  services  he  rendered  the 
colonists  while  he  lived.  Let  us,  therefore,  today  pay  our  most 
loving  tribute  to  his  memory. 

May  the  boys  and  girls  of  Greeley  public  schools  imitate  the 
example  set  by  this  great  editor  and  strive  earnestly  to  gain  the  top 
rungf  of  the  ladder. 


COMMEMORATIVE  EXERCISES  BY 
TYPOGRAPHICAL  UNION   NO.  6 


COMMEMORATIVE    EXERCISES   BY   TYPO- 
GRAPHICAL UNION  NO.  6 

The  printers  have  always  regarded  Horace  Greeley  as  peculiarly 
one  of  their  own.  Their  interest  in,  and  affection  for,  Greeley  has 
been  manifested  at  every  opportunity.  Typographical  Union  No.  6 
was  originally  formed  under  the  name  of  the  "  New  York  Printers' 
Union,"  of  which  Horace  Greeley  was  the  first  president.  The 
history  of  Typographical  Union  No.  6  was  published  in  1913  by 
the  New  York  State  Department  of  Labor  in  a  "  Study  of  a 
Modern  Trade  Union  and  Its  Predecessors."  According  to  this 
history,  the  union  had  taken  steps  to  celebrate  Greeley's  natal  day 
in  the  year  1909.  but  later  on  determined  to  defer  the  celebration 
until  191 1,  Greeley's  hundredth  birthday  anniversary. 

On  November  30,  1910,  Mr  Jacob  Erlich  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr 
James  Tole,  president  of  the  union,  asking  him  to  arrange  for 
"  appropriate  exercises  on  Greeley  Day,"  to  which  Mr  Tole  promptly 
replied  that  he  would  refer  the  letter  to  a  committee  already  "  work- 
ing upon  the  matter  of  properly  celel)rating  the  centenary  of  the 
birth  of  our  first  president."  The  committee  was  composed  of 
John  F.  McCabe,  chairman,  John  F.  Lane,  William  F.  Wetzel,  John 
F.  Crossland  and  James  H.  Dahm,  secretary. 

Typographical  Union  No.  6  observed  the  occasion  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  February  5,  191 1,  at  the  New  York  Theater.  The 
history  which  we  have  mentioned  gives  in  part  the  following  ac- 
count of  the  memorial  meeting,  at  page  637 : 

The  auditorium,  proscenium  boxes  and  balconies  of  the  theater 
were  crowded  with  printers  and  their  friends,  among  whom  were 
a  number  of  prominent  personages.  President  James  Tole  of 
Union  No.  6  presided,  and  on  the  stage,  besides  invited  guests,  were 
many  of  the  former  presidents  of  the  organization.  The  musical 
program  consisted  of  soprano  solos  b}^  Mme.  Alma  Webster  Powell, 
and  violin  selections  by  Miss  Marie  Deutscher,  together  with  several 
appropriate  numbers  by  a  large  orchestra  conducted  by  Professor 
Max  Schmidt. 

The  addresses  follow : 

ADDRESS  OF  THE  CHAIRMAN 

JAMES  TOLE,   PRESIDENT  OF  TYPOGRAPHICAL  UNION   NO.   6 

It  is  fitting  that  Typographical  Union  No.  6  should  today  bring 
to  a  close  the  three-days'  series  of  celebrations  of  the  birth  of 
Horace  Greeley,  its  first  president.     Greeley  was  noted  for  many 


I02  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

things,  hut  we  wish  to  rememher  him  as  Horace  Greeley  the  printer. 
What  emotions  are  stirred  l^y  the  mere  utterance  of  those  simple 
words!  From  1850  to  191 1,  in  the  counting  of  time,  is  but  the 
passing  of  a  shadow.  Yet  in  the  fleeting  of  years  nations  and 
peoples  have  run  the  gamut  of  change;  heroes  have  disported  their 
laurel  wreaths  and  passed  away;  statesmen  and  great  men  in  all 
lines  of  endeavor  have  enjoyed  the  sweets  of  their  greatness,  and 
have  then  stepped  from  the  gaze  of  the  moment.  But  we  have 
been  endowed  with  the  blessed  faculty  of  memory  —  that  memory 
which  at  bidding  conjures  to  the  mind  the  glories  of  the  past  and 
maintains  our  veneration  of  those  to  whose  examples  we  owe  so 
much. 

It  is,  therefore,  with  more  than  pride  and  gratitude  that  we  of 
the  printing  craft  speak  and  think  of  Horace  Greeley  as  a  printer. 
Should  we  not  be  proud,  indeed,  to  remember  that  in  the  hour  of 
his  greatest  triumphs  he,  too,  was  proud  that  he  was  a  printer? 

And  how  grateful  are  we  that  the  first  line  written  in  the  glorious 
history  of  our  organization  emanated  from  so  great  a  mind.  For 
on  January  i,  1850  —  sixty-one  years  ago  —  the  New  York  Printers' 
Union  was  organized,  and  Greeley  was  its  first  president. 

The  inspiring  figure  of  Horace  Greeley  has  surely  spurred  on  to 
ambitious  heights  many  of  our  craftsmen  who  followed  him,  and 
who  themselves  have  attained  to  high  honors  in  the  land.  Notable 
names  might  be  mentioned  of  those  who,  like  the  subject  of  the 
day,  left  the  printers'  case  to  take  their  places  in  the  highest  in- 
telligence of  the  day. 

The  printers'  trade  has  been  described  as  "  the  art  preservative." 
It  is  more;  it  is  the  avenue  through  which  was  approached  the 
wonderful  career  of  this  immortal  American,  whose  impress  upon 
the  social  and  political  history  of  our  country  is  written  in  lines 
of  grateful  remembrance.  It  may  be  that,  when  the  present  fades 
away  in  the  shadows  of  the  past  —  when  the  children  of  the  future 
shall  have  become  the  molders  of  the  nation's  destiny,  when  the 
press  of  new  and  strange  things  fills  the  public  mind  —  it  may  be 
that  the  world  at  large  will  but  hazily  think  of  the  commanding 
intellect  of  the  printer,  in  honor  of  whose  memory  we  are  now 
assembled. 

But  the  "  art  preservative  of  all  arts  "  —  the  art  of  which  he  was 
so  ardent  a  disciple  —  keeps  forever  the  indelible  record  of  his  life, 
forever  furnishing  deepest  inspiration,  encouraging  ambition  to 
great  achievements. 

No  grander  character  springs  from  history's  pages  than  this  man, 


JAMES   TOLE 

(Foreman,  New  York  Globe  pressroom) 
Speaker  at  centenary  observance,  Typographical  Union  No.  6,  Februarys  ,1911 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  IO3 

who,  first  perceiving  the  need  of  reforms  in  trade  conditions  then 
existing,  was  the  first  to  set  about  efifecting  those  reforms.  No 
union  printer  of  the  present  day  can  fail  to  appreciate  the  efforts 
of  this  pioneer  to  estabHsh  the  craft  upon  a  basis  deserving  the 
respect  of  the  community.  Who  shall  say  that  the  widespreading 
influence  and  power  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  are 
not  due  to  the  energies  of  those  who  laid  our  foundations  more 
than  half  a  century  ago? 

The  man  who  began  by  putting  into  type  the  thoughts  of  others, 
who  later  aspired  even  to  the  highest  honor  within  the  gift  of  his 
countrymen  —  was  a  printer.  Never  forgetting  his  early  training 
and  associations  in  a  printing  office,  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that 
among  his  most  active  work  in  New  York  City  was  that  in  the 
direction  of  elevating  his  chosen  craft,  and  the  success  of  his  labors 
is  now  evidenced  in  the  position  of  influence  of  the  present  union 
of  7000  members,  of  which  he  was  the  first  president  —  a  union 
then  of  27  members. 

Since  the  stirring  days  of  his  activities  in  our  ranks  others  have 
appeared  and  performed  their  allotted  duties  among  men  ;  men  and 
times  and  conditions  have  changed;  adversities  have  been  met  and 
conquered;  we  have  been  torn  by  strife  and  at  times  have  been 
forced  almost  to  the  last  issue  in  order  to  maintain  our  integrity. 
But  throughout  it  all  —  even  in  the  darkest  hour,  when  hope  was 
ebbing  low  —  there  was  always  before  us  the  indomitable  spirit  of 
the  man  who  set  our  ship  afloat,  the  man  who  knew  how  to  battle 
for  right,  whose  fearlessness  and  determination  are  today  the  pride 
and  glory  of  every  American  union  printer. 

Fitting  it  is,  then,  that  on  this  day,  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  assemblages  such  as  this  one  have  gathered  together  to  pay 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  great  American.  Men  of  the  journalist 
profession  are  today  extolling  the  qualities  of  the  genius  whose 
magic  has  widened  the  scope  of  their  endeavors,  and  whose  name  is 
linked  forever  with  the  highest  and  purest  ideals.  They  will  speak 
reverently  of  him  not  only  as  the  leading  editor  of  his  time,  as  the 
greatest  power  in  journalism  of  his  day,  but  also  as  an  astute  states- 
man, a  true  and  keen  observer  of  the  trend  of  events. 

Journalist,  statesman,  thinker,  reformer,  man  of  affairs  he  was, 
leaving  behind  him  the  ineflfaceable  record  of  his  greatness !  But 
our  fondest  thought  of  him  is  of  the  man  in  all  his  simple  earnest- 
ness, the  worker  in  the  ranks  of  his  fellow  men,  ever  striving  for 
the  general  uplift  of  mankind  and  thinking  of  himself  merely  as 
Horace  Greeley  —  the  printer. 


I04  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

IK  )RACE  GREELEY  AND  THE  CAUSE  OF  LABOR 

ALBERT  J.   BEVERIDGE,  UNITED  STATES   SENATOR 

The  labor  i)rob!cni  is  the  fundamental  problem.  Believing  this, 
Horace  Greeley  was,  in  his  time,  the  prophet  of  a  brighter  day  for 
those  who  toil.  The  great  journal  which  he  founded  became,  in  a 
critical  period,  the  trumpet  of  American  conscience;  yet  even  above 
his  fame  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant  journalists  the  world  has 
produced  stands  his  renown  as  a  champion  of  the  rights  of  labor. 

The  welfare  of  men.  women,  and  children  who  must  eat  their 
bread  in  the  sweat  of  their  faces  was  his  deepest  concern.  Wise 
counselor  of  the  toiling  masses,  he  also  was  a  fearless  fighter  to 
better  their  conditions.  What  Horace  Greeley  believed  in,  that  he 
fought  for. 

Even  in  his  early  manhood  Horace  Greeley  saw  that  simple  and 
sublime  truth  that  the  laborer  is  not  merely  a  commodity,  but  a 
human  being,  and  therefore  that  every  phase  of  the  labor  problem 
can  be  solved  only  from  this  Christian  viewpoint. 

The  old  and  savage  theory  that  the  workingman  is  merely  mer- 
chandise like  a  sack  of  flour  or  a  bucket  of  coal  or  a  threshing 
machine ;  that  the  life  energies  of  man,  woman  and  child  should 
be  bought  in  a  labor  market  at  the  lowest  price  which  the  com- 
petition of  hunger  made  possible;  that  the  employer  need  not  think 
of  the  employee  as  a  human  being  but  only  as  a  working  animal  to 
be  used  until  exhausted  and  then  cast  aside  —  that  idea  is  the  child 
of  brutal  barbarism. 

It  came  down  to  us  from  the  hideous  past.  It  has  built  more 
hovels  and  prevented  the  building  of  more  homes;  placed  more 
broken  human  beings  in  their  graves  and  filled  the  abiding  places  of 
mankind  with  more  misery  and  woe  than  all  the  wars  that  have 
cursed  the  world.  This  apparently  is  extreme ;  yet  it  is  but  a  care- 
fully guarded  statement  of  facts  established  by  history  and  statistics. 

To  Horace  Greeley  this  idea  of  human  labor  was  horrible.  It 
would  be  better  for  the  nation  and  all  the  world  if  the  master  minds 
directing  the  material  forces  of  our  time  could  see  this  as  Horace 
Greeley  saw  it. 

It  would  be  better  if  the  principle  of  brotherhood  should  enter 
into  all  our  industry  and  commerce,  making  human  the  harsh  prin- 
ciple of  commercialism  —  the  principle  of  profit  at  any  cost,  of 
gain  at  any  sacrifice,  even  the  sacrifice  of  human  happiness  and  life. 

And,  indeed,  more  and  more  is  this  transpiring.  More  and  more 
the  principle  of  brotherhood  is  making  its  conquest  of  our  industrial 


specially  taken  for  this  'work 


HOUSE    AT   POULTNEY,    VERMONT 

Where  Horace  Greeley  lived  when  he  began  his  newspaper  career. 
(Building  still  standing) 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I05 

and  commercial  life.  More  and  more  the  idea  that  the  laborer  is 
a  human  being  serving  his  employer  in  fellowship  for  their  mutual 
welfare  is  overcoming  the  idea  that  the  workingman  is  a  mere  tool, 
a  senseless  mechanism  to  be  used  only  for  his  employer's  profit 
until  his  industrial  effectiveness  is  gone  and  then  thrown  helpless, 
hopeless  and  ruined  into  the  great  human  scrapheap  like  a  wrecked 
machine  or  ashes  of  burned-out  fuel. 

For  the  present  progress  and  final  triumph  of  the  idea  of  the 
laborer  as  a  human  being  as  much  if  not  more  credit  is  due  Horace 
(jreeley  than  to  any  other  single  American  intellect.  His  declaration 
that  "  Man  was  not  made  merely  to  cat,  work  and  sleep  "  went  to 
tlie  hearts  of  his  countrymen  when  he  uttered  it  and  comes  to  us 
today  like  the  burning  words  of  the  Hebrew  prophets. 

His  battle  cry  was,  "  A  place  for  every  man  and  a  man  for  every 
place."  He  declared  that  "  Dives  might  perhaps  give  Lazarus  a 
steady  job  of  oakum-picking,  or  even  gardening,  in  order  to  keep 
tlie  crumbs  about  his  table  for  his  dogs  exclusively,  without  at  all 
recognizing  the  essential  brotherhood  Ijetween  them  or  doing  any- 
thing to  vindicate  it." 

For  an  hour  I  might  quote  such  utterances  of  Horace  Greeley. 
But  he  did  not  stop  with  these  splendid  generalities.  With  the  vigor 
of  conviction  he  gave  them  point  and  substance  by  concrete  plans 
for  labor's  betterment. 

He  was  among  the  greatest  of  the  advocates  of  organized  labor. 
He  saw  not  only  the  inhumanity  that  the  toiler  suffered  from  want 
of  organization ;  saw  not  only  that  the  disorganization  of  labor  and 
the  organization  of  capital  made  possible  "  man's  inhumanity  to 
man  "  which  "  makes  countless  thousands  mourn,"  but  also  he  saw 
that  lack  of  organization  among  laborers  caused  incredible  waste 
and  loss. 

It  was  Horace  Greeley  who  declared  that  "  The  aggregate  waste 
of  labor  and  faculty  for  want  of  organization  in  any  year  exceeds 
the  cost  of  any  war  for  five  years,  ruinous  and  detestable  as  all 
war  is.  It  is  palpable  fatuity  and  criminal  waste  of  the  divine 
bounty  to  let  this  go  on  interminably." 

And  so  Horace  Greeley  preached  the  righteousness  and  wisdom 
of  the  organization  of  labor.  He  w^as  our  great  American  cham- 
pion of  the  brotherhood  of  toil.  Not  even  today  does  any  economist 
more  thoroughly  understand  the  philosophy  of  the  organization  of 
labor  than  Horace  Greeley  understood  it  tliree-quarters  of  a  century 
ago.  And  no  man  today  expounds  with  more  guarded  thoughtful- 
ness  or  brilliant  argument  the  common   sense  and  beneficence  of 


I06  THE    UMVERSITV    UF    THE    STATE    OF    XEW    YORK 

organized  labor  than  did  this  journalistic  tribune  of  the  people  from 
early  manhood  to  the  very  sunset  of  his  life. 

He  thought,  spoke  and  fought  for  improved  labor  conditions  in 
every  phase  of  labor's  activity  and  life.  He  believed  labor  entitled 
to  higher  wages.  Horace  Greeley  thought  that  labor,  which,  jointly 
with  capital,  produces  this  wealth,  should  get  an  increased  and 
increasing  share  of  it. 

Even  in  that  day  Greeley  was  shocked  at  the  lightninglike  accumu- 
lation of  riches  in  the  hands  of  a  few  who  did  little  to  earn  them 
and  the  appalling  increase  of  the  thousands  who  asked  only  an 
opportunity  to  work  that  they  might  cat. 

No  clearer  light  ever  has  been  thrown  on  unjustifiable  industrial 
and  financial  inequalities  than  Horace  Greeley's  remorseless  analysis ; 
few  stronger  denunciations  of  this  wicked  condition  ever  were 
pronounced  since  the  time  when  the  Divine  Equalizer  gave  to  man- 
kind his  sacred  message  two  thousand  years  ago. 

But  in  nearly  all  he  said  and  proposed  for  the  welfare  of  the 
workingman,  Greeley  was  carefully  practical;  he  did  not  propose 
to  cure  between  morning  and  nightfall  all  the  injustices  we  have 
inherited  from  the  beginning  of  time.  But  there  were  some  things 
upon  which  he  did  insist  as  immediately  necessary  and  not  to  be 
compromised.  One  of  these  was  a  shortening  of  the  laborer's  work- 
ing day.  At  that  time  it  was  both  law  and  usage  to  employ  labor 
at  the  lowest  possible  point  to  which  the  fear  of  starvation  could 
drive  wages,  and  then  compel  the  laborer  to  work  as  many  hours 
as  the  employer  chose  without  consultation  or  consent  of  the  man 
who  did  the  work.  So  laborers  were  compelled  to  work  twelve  and 
fourteen  hours,  and  for  even  longer  periods,  every  working  day. 
Greeley  proposed  to  shorten  this  period  of  toil,  either  by  agreement 
or  by  law,  to  a  maximum  of  ten  hours  a  day.  The  employers  thought 
this  meant  their  business  injury  —  even  their  bankruptcy.  Greeley 
showed  them,  instead,  that  shorter  hours  and  higher  wages  meant 
the  employers'  increased  prosperity. 

It  was  the  same  conflict  between  a  blind  and  sordid  selfishness 
on  the  one  hand  and  a  wise  common-sense  and  humanitarianism 
on  the  other  hand  that  occurred  in  England  a  few  years  earher, 
when  Shaftesbury  and  Saddler  and  the  other  British  labor  reformers 
began  to  fight  for  the  idea  of  the  laborer  as  a  human  being.  But 
no  English  reformer  ever  put  the  argument  for  shortening  hours 
of  labor  more  compellingly  than  did  the  American  Greeley. 

Aside  from  the  economic  folly  of  an  unlimited  working  day, 
its  crass  injustice  shocked  Greeley's  honest  soul.     Of  this  stupid 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  IO7 

wrong  he  said:  "  It  would  be  as  sensible  and  just  to  prescribe  that 
a  pound  of  meat  or  sugar  or  coffee  should  consist  of  just  as  many 
ounces  as  the  buyer  should  see  fit,  after  the  price  had  been  settled, 
to  exact,  or  that  a  bushel  of  grain  should  consist  of  an  indefinite 
number  of  quarts,  as  that  a  day's  work  should  consist  of  ten,  eleven, 
twelve  or  thirteen  hours'  faithful  labor,  just  as  the  purchaser  of 
that  labor  should  think  proper  to  require." 

The  fact  that  in  nearly  fifty  trades  there  is  at  the  present  time 
an  eight-hour  day  by  agreement  between  employers  and  their  or- 
ganized employees ;  that  as  a  result  there  is  an  increased  and  better 
product,  a  sturdier,  happier  and  more  enlightened  laboring  class; 
that  there  are  more  homes  and  fewer  hovels  for  these  laborers,  and 
that  those  homes  have  more  books,  music  and  comforts  than  ever 
before,  is  due  to  this  humane  agitation  for  a  shorter  day  of  labor, 
of  which  Horace  Greeley  was  one  of  the  first  and  greatest  American 
apostles,  and  to  the  steady,  intelligent  efforts  of  organized  labor. 
of  which  Horace  Greeley  was  one  of  the  first  and  greatest  American 
champions. 

Child  labor  is  America's  peculiar  industrial  shame.  It  is  a  crime 
against  manhood  labor  —  every  child  laborer  at  childhood  wages 
takes  the  place  of  a  man  laborer  at  manhood  wages. 

It  is  a  crime  against  the  humane  business  man  —  his  goods,  made 
by  manhood  labor  at  manhood  wages,  must  meet  his  competitors' 
goods  made  by  child  labor  at  childhood  wagfs. 

It  is  a  crime  against  childhood  —  every  little  one  has  an  inalien- 
able, a  sacred,  right  to  grow  into  sound-bodied,  clear-brained,  pure- 
souled  maturity. 

It  is  a  crime  against  society ;  it  pours  into  our  citizenship  a 
stream  of  people  weakened  in  body  and  mind. 

It  is  an  insult  to  our  religion,  whose  founder  said :  "  Suft"er  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the 
Kingdom  of  God." 

Horace  Greeley  was  against  it.  Even  in  his  day,  when  greed  had 
scarcely  begun  to  chain  us  to  this  body  of  death,  he  sought  to 
restrain  it.  It  was  Horace  Greeley  who  declared :  "  The  State 
has  a  right  to  see  and  ought  to  see  that  the  frames  of  the  rising 
generation  are  not  shattered  nor  their  constitutions  undermined  by 
excessive  toil.  She  should  do  this  for  her  cKvn  sake  as  well  as  for 
humanity's.  She  has  a  vital  interest  in  the  strength  and  vigor  of 
those  who  are  to  be  her  future  fathers  and  mothers,  her  defenders 
in  war,  her  cultivators  and  artisans  in  peace.    .    .    .    For  whatever 


I08  THE    UNIVKKSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

service  it  may  be  necessary  to  employ  labor  .  .  .  there  will  always 
be  found  an  abundance  of  adults  if  proper  inducements  are  ottered." 

Thus  spoke  Horace  Greeley  when  child  labor  in  America  was  a 
pleasant  pastime  compared  with  the  black  brutality  of  child  labor 
in  America  today. 

What  would  he  say  now  if  he  could  see  the  reeking  sweatshops, 
the  clouded  coal  breakers,  the  thundering  mills  where  scores  of 
thousands  of  little  ones  are  being  sacrificed  to  Mammon  in  the  name 
of  a  false  prosperity. 

Here  is  how  he  summed  up  his  unanswerable  arguments  for  a 
higher  estate  for  those  who  toil :  "  A  better  social  condition,  en- 
larged opportunities  for  good.,  an  atmosphere  of  humanity  and  hope, 
would  insure  a  nobler  and  truer  character,  and  that  the  dens  of 
dissipation  will  clear  to  leave  those  whom  a  proper  education  has 
qualified  and  whom  excessive  toil  has  not  disqualified  for  the  im- 
provement of  liberty  and  leisure." 

"  Our  Eden  is  before  us,  not  behind  us,"  said  Horace  Greeley. 
And  that  is  true.  It  is  a  long,  long  march  before  us  and  we  can 
reach  it  as  all  marching  armies  reach  their  destination,  only  by  a 
siep  at  a  time. 

There  are  those  who  are  impatient  with  this  slow  progress  —  they 
want  to  reach  the  end  with  a  single  stride.  Let  us  not  blame  them, 
for  hard  conditions  justify  their  impatience. 

There  are  those  who  resist  any  forward  step  whatever  —  they 
think  humanity's  advance  means  their  financial  loss.  Let  us  not 
blame  them  either,  but  merely  pity  them  that  the  lust  of  gain  has 
blinded  them  to  the  fellowshij)  of  man. 

Most  of  the  labor  reforms  which  Greeley  proposed  and  for  which 
he  fought  already  have  been  realized  in  part  and  ultimately  and 
soon  will  be  realized  entirely. 

The  ten-hour  working  day  for  which  Greeley  battled,  against  the 
unlimited  working  day  of  his  time,  now  has  grown  into  the  eight- 
hour  day  from  the  same  arguments  and  facts  which  Greeley  used. 
It  ought  to  be  universal  in  all  trades. 

From  ocean  to  ocean  organized  labor  is  now  a  fact  as  permanent 
as  the  Government  itself. 

The  holy  crusade  against  child  labor  now  moving  militantly  for- 
ward will  not  cease  until  this  stain  is  wiped  entirely  from  our  flag. 

Li  short,  the  day  is  dawning  when  the  evils  that  Greeley  de- 
nounced and  the  principal  reforms  which  he  proposed  will  be  ac- 
com])lished.  and  the  multiplying  millions  who  produce  the  wealth 
of  the  land  in  peace  and  carry  its  muskets  in  war  will  more  largely 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  IO9 

enjoy  life,  liberty  and  pursuit  of  happiness  which  is  their  inalienable 
right. 

And  when  the  sun  of  that  day  is  fully  above  the  horizon  its  glad 
light  will  reveal  Horace  Greeley  as  the  heroic  figure  of  that  notable 
epoch  for  those  who  toil  —  Horace  Greeley  at  once  that  epoch's 
prophet,  philosopher,  orator  and  soldier  of  the  common  good. 

HORACE  GREELEY  A.S  A  JOURNALIST 

WILLIAM    H.    MC  ELROY,    FORMER  EDITOR   OF  THE   NEW   YORK   TRIBUNE 

On  the  17th  of  August  1831,  Horace  Greeley,  then  twenty  years 
old,  came  to  New  York  City  looking  for  work.  He  carried  his 
entire  fortune  —  upwards  of  ten  dollars  —  in  his  pocket.  He  knew 
nobody,  he  bore  letters  of  introduction  to  no  citizen,  desirable  or 
undesirable.  His  nearest  friend  was  two  hundred  miles  away. 
Nevertheless  the  boy  was  hardly  to  be  pitied,  for  he  resolutely 
declined  to  allow  poverty  to  blight  him.  On  the  contrary,  he  forced 
it  to  bless  him  by  using  it  as  a  spur  to  worthy  endeavor.  Lacking 
visible  friends,  the  voice  of  God  in  his  own  soul  must  have  cheered 
him  with  the  assurance  that  he  could  enlist  in  his  service  if  he 
chose  —  and  young  Horace  Greeley  chose  — ■  friends  invisible  but 
most  powerful  —  a  goodly  company,  composed  of  trustworthiness, 
industry,  perseverance,  patience,  courage. 

The  sister  of  another  prominent  American  told  me  this  story  of 
her  brother.  He  had  risen  from  poverty  and  obscurity  to  riches  and 
honor,  had  become  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  country.  One 
afternoon  as  she  was  sitting  with  him  in  his  library  his  son  came  in. 
The  son  was  a  gay  young  man  of  fashion  and  something  of  a 
"  sport."  He  had  been  out  driving  and  entered  the  library  jauntily. 
carrying  his  whip  in  his  hand.  His  father  gazed  at  him  a  moment 
and  then  said,  with  a  sigh,  "  Jack,  do  you  know  that  I  am  inclined 
to  pity  you  ?  "  Jack, —  young,  handsome,  without  a  care,  an  heir  to 
a  fortune,  naturally  was  amazed.  "  Why  in  the  world  do  you  pity 
me,  father?"  he  asked.  "Well,  my  son,"  his  father  explained,  "1 
am  inclined  to  pity  you  because  you  will  never  have  the  benefit  of 
the  disadvantages  under  wdiich  I  labored  at  your  age."  Horace 
Greeley,  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  had  the  benefit  of  a  number  of 
first-rate  disadvantages. 

In  his  essay  on  "Representative  Men,"  Mr  Emerson  writes: 
"  When  Nature  removes  a  great  man  people  explore  the  horizon  for 
a   successor.      But  none  comes   and   none   will.      His   class   is   ex- 


no  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

tiiiguishecl  with  liiiii."  ikit  the  i)assing  away  of  some  great  men 
does  not  seem  the  extinguishment  of  their  class.  They  go,  but  their 
class  survives.  That  is  to  say,  sooner  or  later  they  are  succeeded 
by  men  who  remind  us  of  them,  who  perform  the  sort  of  work 
which  tliey  performed.  P)Ut  it  was  emphatically  true  of  Horace 
Greeley  that  "  his  class  perished  with  him  " ;  that  we  shall  not  see 
his  like  again.  He  was  not  only  a  great  man  but  a  great  man  of  a 
rare  sort.  He  has  been  studied  from  many  points  of  view  but  has 
not  been  adequately  painted,  for  his  was  a  personal  equation  of 
which  it  may  be  said  what  Daniel  Webster  said  of  eloquence. 
"  Words  and  phrases  may  be  marshaled  in  every  way;  they  can  not 
express  it." 

The  theme  which  has  been  assigned  me,  Horace  (jreeley  as  a 
juurnalist,  does  not  call  for  a  survey  of  his  career  from  all  points 
•of  view,  but  simply  for  a  consideration  of  the  character  and 
significance  of  his  work  in  his  chosen  profession.  Many  circum- 
stances combined  to  make  him  what  he  was  —  the  foremost 
journalist  of  his  generation.  He  was  preeminently  a  manly  man. 
a  man  who  did  his  own  thinking  and  not  thinking  which  he  inherited 
or  was  dictated  to  him.  He  was  generously  endowed  with  moral 
energy,  intellectual  resources  and  sympathy,  of  the  affirmative  sort, 
for  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  especially  for  the  poor  and 
oppressed.  He  loved  work  as  ardently  as  Romeo  loved  Juliet.  It 
was  given  him  to  labor  in  the  most  important,  and  therefore  the  most 
stimulating,  newspaper  field  in  the  United  States.  He  flourished  at 
a  time  when  there  was  special  need  of  him  — ■  a  time  when  the  supply 
of  food  for  the  mind  and  soul  furnished  by  the  newspapers  of  the 
country  was  sadly  unequal  to  the  demand.  Just  as  John  was  called 
to  go  crying  in  the  wilderness.  "  bearing  witness  to  the  Light." 
Horace  Greeley  would  seem  to  have  been  called  to  serve  as  guide, 
philosopher,  friend  to  thousands  of  his  countrymen  all  over  the 
land.  His  equipment  for  such  a  task  included,  among  its  essentials, 
the  pen  of  a  fluent,  forcible  writer.  It  was  wickedly  said  of  a  cer- 
tain rhapsodical  poet  that  "  He  had  nothing  to  say  but  he  said  it 
splendidly."  Mr  Greeley  had  much  to  say  that  was  well  worth 
listening  to  on  a  variety  of  topics  of  general  interest,  and  he  knew 
how  to  say  it.  He  was  a  master  of  what  has  been  called  the  art  of 
putting  things.  His  literary  style  was  as  frank  and  unaffected  as 
his  own  nature.  Sometimes,  in  the  heat  of  a  political  canvass  or 
in  reply  to  a  wanton  attack  or  in  the  stress  of  one  of  his  numberless 
controversies,  his  output  of  heated  superlatives  was  very  large. 
Charging  bis  ink  with  vitriol,  he  indulged  in  imprecatory  adjectives 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  III 

and  substantives,  losing  sight  of  the  sound  old  caution,  "  Strong 
without  rage,  without  o'erflowing  full." 

His  brother  journalists  of  the  press  of  the  metropolis,  William 
Cullen  Bryant,  Charles  A.  Dana  and  Henry  J.  Raymond,  all  college- 
bred  men,  excelled  him  as  a  writer,  in  certain  particulars.  Bryant, 
the  poet-editor,  was  more  profound  and  polished,  Dana  was  his 
superior  in  versatility  and  scholarship,  Raymond  was  more  brilliant, 
more  philosophic.  But  none  of  them  surpassed  him  in  mental 
robustness,  none  in  pungent,  unambiguous  expression.  When  he 
undertook  to  call  a  spade  a  spade,  he  did  so  with  precision  —  in 
terms  which  rendered  it  impossible  for  the  reader  to  suppose  that 
he  was  referring  to  a  shovel. 

It  is  to  be  added,  in  enumerating  the  sources  of  Mr  Greeley's 
strength  as  a  journalist,  that  after  the  Tribune  became  well  estab- 
lished he  made  a  large  number  of  lecture  tours.  He  addressed 
lyceums,  agricultural  societies,  mechanics'  institutes,  chambers  of 
commerce  and  other  bodies  in  various  parts  of  the  land,  and  in 
addition  did  his  share  of  stump-speaking  here  and  there.  He  was 
thus  brought  into  personal  contact  with  the  people,  and  gained,  at 
first  hand,  an  insight  into  their  needs  and  aspirations  which  added 
sensibly  to  his  practical  efficiency.  He  was  proficient  in  few  of  the 
arts  of  oratory  and  still  was  a  popular  speaker  —  your  mere 
elocutionist,  however  accomplished,  is  not  listened  to  as  attentively 
as  the  man  behind  the  gun,  although  the  man  distinctly  falls  "  below 
Demosthenes  or  Cicero."  When  Mr  Greeley  rose  to  speak,  his 
hearers  said  to  one  another,  "  We  will  now  hear  from  the  man 
behind  the  Tribune."  I  have  said  that,  although  not  an  orator  (in 
the  academic  sense  of  the  term),  he  was,  nevertheless,  a  popular 
speaker. 

Andrew  D.  White,  the  distinguished  ex-president  of  Cornell  Uni- 
versity, said  of  one  of  Mr  Greeley's  speeches  which  he  was  privi- 
leged to  hear  (and  Mr  White  was  a  good  judge  of  such  matters)  : 
'''  I  never  heard  a  more  simple,  strong,  lucid  use  of  the  English 
language."  That  was  Horace  Greeley,  with  tongue  or  with  pen  — 
simple,  strong  and  lucid. 

I  have  thus  glanced  —  there  is  time  only  for  a  glance  —  at  funda- 
mental things  which  went  to  the  making  of  Greeley  the  j'ournalist 
and  rendered  him  an  influence  whose  extent  and  force  it  would  be 
difficult  to  overestimate.  From  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  he  came 
to  be  looked  up  to  as  the  chief  educator  of  his  profession,  the  lead- 
ing molder  of  public  opinion,  an  inspiration  to  wholesome,  progres- 
sive, broad-gauge  living.     More  than  that,  the  masses,  as  they  be- 


112  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

came  acquainted  with  his  ijersunality,  grew  fond  of  him;  for  they 
felt,  and  felt  truly,  that 

"  His  heart  was  made  of  simple,  manly  stuff, 
As  home-spun  as  their  own." 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  these  parishioners  of  his  did  not  invariably 
say  amen  to  his  utterances.  Now  and  then  they  distinctly  disagreed 
with  him.  Now  and  then  they  made  light  of  some  scheme  of  his 
for  accelerating  the  approach  of  the  millennium.  Now  and  then 
they  resented  his  attitude  touching  party  principles  or  policies  or 
leaders.  Now  and  then  they  called  him  a  visionary.  Not  a  few  of 
them  repudiated  his  war  policy  and  greeted  his  signing  of  Jefferson 
Davis's  bail  bond  with  "  curses  red  with  uncommon  \vrath."  But 
one  thing  they  did  not  do  —  they  never  really  doubted  him,  never 
withdrew  their  confidence  from  him.  Their  faith  in  the  man  was 
founded  on  a  rock.  So  it  is  that  what  Lowell  said  of  another 
illustrious  American  is  emphatically  true  of  Horace  Greeley  —  he 
was  a  "  standing  testimonial  to  the  cumulative  power  of  character." 

Mr  Greeley  edited  three  newspapers  before  starting  the  Tribune  — 
preliminary  flights  to  test  the  machine.  The  New-  Yorker  was  his 
first  venture  —  a  weekly,  so  the  prospectus  ran  —  devoted  to 
"  current  literature,  politics  and  general  news."  It  began  in  March 
1834,  and  was  discontinued  in  September  1841.  Its  demise  was  due 
largely  to  the  distressing  circumstance  that  very  many  of  its  sub- 
scribers never  paid  their  liills.  In  his  "  Recollections  of  a  Busy 
Life,"  Mr  Greeley  states  that,  when  the  paper  stopped,  these  delin- 
quents, who  became  permanent  in  their  delinquency,  owed  him  ten 
thousand  dollars.  (It  would  appear  from  this  that  there  were  some 
bad  people  in  New  York  even  in  "  the  good  old  days.")  Mr 
Greeley's  next  newspaper  was  the  Jeft'ersonian,  a  weekly  campaign 
sheet  in  the  interest  of  the  \Aniig  party.  Price  fifty  cents  a  year. 
It  was  published  in  1838-39  and  was  succeeded  in  1840  by  another 
and  much  more  important  campaign  paper,  the  Log  Cabin.  That 
was  the  year  when  William  Henry  Harrison  was  elected  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  it  is  scarcely  too  much  to  assert  that  the 
Log  Cabin  did  as  much  to  elect  him  as  any  other  agency  employed 
in  the  canvass.  It  was,  in  fact,  an  ideal  campaign  paper,  made  up 
of  short,  telling  editorials,  trenchant  and  witty  paragraphs ;  wood 
cuts,  cri\de  but  entertaining  and  effective,  and  "  Tippecanoe " 
songs,  words  and  music,  so  "  catchy  "  and  so  expressive  of  the 
popular  feeling  that  the  country  became  vociferously  vocal  during 
that  Harrison  campaign.  With  the  Log  Cabin  Mr  Greeley  com- 
pleted his  newspaper  novitiate;    for  on  the  loth  of  April  1841,  he 


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HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  II3 

issued  the  first  number  of  the  journal  which  was  to  win  him  im- 
perishable fame  —  the  New  York  Tribune. 

All  these  papers,  differing-  from  one  another  in  some  respects. 
had  one  noteworthy  characteristic  in  common.  They  were  clean 
papers,  wholesome  papers,  papers  which  did  not  pander,  papers 
which  declined  to  make  friends  with  the  mammon  of  unrighteous- 
ness. In  his  "  Recollections,"  IVIr  Greeley  directs  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  Jeffersonian  "  carefully  eschewed  abuse,  scurrility  atid 
railing  accusation."  The  Log  Cabin,  which  he  states  was  "  more 
lively  and  less  sedately  argumentati\e  "  than  its  predecessor,  was 
like  it  in  avoiding  abuse,  scurrility  and  railing  accusation.  That  it 
was  determined  not  to  strike  any  foul  blows  is  attested  by  a  letter 
which  Mr  Greeley  wrote  to  one  of  his  correspondents.  In  this 
'letter  the  correspondent  is  informed  that  "  Articles  assailing  the 
personal  character  of  Mr  Van  Buren  [w^ho  was  General  Harrison's 
competitor  for  the  presidency]  or  of  his  supporters  can  not  be 
printed  in  the  Cabin."  As  for  the  Tribune,  it  made  clear  in  its 
prospectus  that  it  was  bent  upon  conforming  its  conduct  to  a  high 
moral  standard.  This  is  the  essential  part  of  the  prospectus,  "  The 
Tribune,  as  its  name  imports,  will  labor  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  people  and  to  promote  their  moral,  social  and  political  well- 
being.  The  immoral  and  degrading  police  reports,  advertisements 
and  other  matter,  which  have  been  allowed  to  disgrace  the  columns 
of  our  leading  penny  papers,  will  be  carefully  excluded  from  this. 
and  no  exertion  spared  to  render  it  worthy  of  the  hearty  approval 
of  the  virtuous  and  refined  and  a  welcome  visitor  at  the  fireside." 

Words  are  always  cheap,  but  Mr  Greeley  conducted  the  Tribune 
in  accordance  with  what  he  thus  promised.  He  made  it  the  con- 
servator of  whatever  things  are  pure,  lovely  and  of  good  report. 
He  made  it  hospitable  to  science,  to  literature  and  the  other  arts, 
fine  or  useful.  Its  columns  were  open  to  the  discussion  of  any 
cause — including  some  vagaries  —  which  was  decent.  It  was  a 
powerful  and  persistent  champion  of  the  rights  of  labor.  Such  was 
its  devotion  to  freedom  and  such  its  efficiency  in  battling  against 
her  enemies,  that  Harper's  \A^eekly,  in  its  leader  on  the  death  of 
]Mr  Greeley,  did  not  hesitate  to  declare  that,  ''  No  single  force  in 
educating  the  nation  for  the  terrible  struggle  with  slavery  was  so 
powerful  as  the  Trilnme."  Horace  Greeley,  as  thus  revealed,  was 
a  good  and  faithful  servant  of  the  people,  a  stalwart  promoter  of 
the  civilization  which  really  civilizes. 

A  certain  publication  was  once  characterized  as  a  newspaper 
"  for  which  there  is  always  a  market  but  never  an  enthusiasm." 


114  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Mr  Greeley,  vvliile  not  lacking  a  decent  respect  for  the  almighty 
dollar,  aimed  primarily  to  furnish  his  readers  with  a  paper  which 
would  command  their  enthusiasm.  "  To  do  good,"  he  said  in  one 
of  his  occasional  addresses,  "is  the  proper  business  of  life;  to 
qualify  for  earnestness  and  efficiency  in  doing  good,  is  the  true 
end  of  education ;  the  sum  of  all  the  knowledge  in  the  child  is  the 
consciousness  that  he  lives  not  for  himself,  but  for  his  Creator  and 
his  race."  Mr  Greeley's  course  as  a  journalist  was  in  harmony 
with  that  exalted  conception  of  the  purpose  of  human  life.  He 
did.  indeed,  labor  strenuously  to  make  his  paper  marketable  —  an 
eight-hour  law  for  others  but  a  sixteen-hour  law  for  Greeley,  would 
seem  to  have  been  his  way  of  disposing  of  one  phase  of  the  labor 
([uestion  —  but  it  was  not  in  the  man  to  strive  for  material  success 
at  the  expense  of  principle.  It  followed,  of  course,  that  the  assump- 
tion that  a  newspaper  is  a  "  business  enterprise."  never  impressed 
him.  His  career  justified  the  inference  that  in  his  view  a  newspaper 
is  not  a  business  enterprise  in  any  sense  which  puts  it  in  a  different 
class,  so  far  as  moral  obligation  is  concerned,  from  that  in  which 
the  business  enterprise  of  preaching  the  Gospel  belongs.  In  other 
words,  it  was  Mr  Greeley's  conviction  that  the  editor  of  a  newspaper 
in  his  sanctum  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  vocation,  is 
just  as  amenable  to  the  Ten  Commandments,  the  Golden  Rule,  the 
precepts  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  as  the  minister  in  his  pulpit 
in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  vocation.  It  behooves  the 
minister  to  preach  the  truth  as  he  sees  it.  whether  men  will  hear  or 
whether  they  will  forbear.  It  no  less  behooves  the  editor  —  so  Mr 
Greeley  held,  and  he  "  put  his  creed  into  his  deed  " —  to  print  only 
what  he  himself  regards  as  reputable,  whether  men  take  or  refuse 
to  take  his  paper. 

Mr  Greeley  had  a  decided  opinion  on  the  much-mooted  question 
as  to  what  a  newspaper  ought  and  ought  not  to  print.  One  of  the 
current  New  York  dailies  takes  for  its  motto.  "  All  the  news  that's 
fit  to  print " ;  the  motto  of  another  is  "  All  the  news  that  is  news." 
Charles  A.  Dana,  in  an  address  before  a  newspaper  association, 
defined  news  to  be  "  anything  which  interests  the  people."  He 
went  on  to  say  that,  "  ^^'hatever  Divine  Providence  permits  to  occur 
I  am  not  too  proud  to  print."  Mr  Greeley,  on  the  other  hand,  in  a 
letter  written  to  Mr  Dana  while  that  gentleman  was  a  member  of 
the  Tribune  stafi",  exclaimed.  "  Oh,  my  friend,  the  wisdom  which 
teaches  us  what  should  not  be  said,  that  is  the  hardest  to  be  ac- 
(juircd  of  all  !  "  Mr  Greeley  did  not  believe  in  reporting  "  whatever 
Divine  I'rovidcnce  permitted  to  occur."     He  drew  the  line  some- 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  II5 

where.  Divine  Providence  permitted  Sodom  and  Gomorra  to  occur. 
But,  judging  from  the  convictions  which  Mr  Greeley  expressed  on 
th.e  subject  of  newspaper  pubhcity.  he  would  have  held  that  an 
unvarnished  report  of  the  doings  at  Sodom  and  Gomorra.  when  the 
lid  was  off.  would  have  been  eligible  only  for  the  wastcbasket. 

Mr  Greeley  was  profoundly  in  earnest.  There  was  nothing  per- 
functory, nothing  lukewarm  in  his  journalistic  work.  His  utter- 
ances had  their  root  in  strong  convictions.  Henry  J.  Raymond  was 
credited  with  saying  to  a  friend  that  he  himself  never  finished  a 
sentence  without  a  profound  feeling  chat  it  was  only  partially  true. 
Mr  Greeley  was  too  thoroughgoing,  too  decided  in  his  opinions, 
to  have  experienced  such  a  feeling.  It  is  related  of  Charles  Sumner 
that  once  in  the  United  States  Senate,  while  he  was  indulging  in 
a  peculiarly  fierce  philippic  against  slavery,  a  fellow  senator  ven- 
tured to  ask  him  to  consider  the  other  side.  "  Sir,"  thundered 
Sumner.  "  there  isn't  any  other  side."  When  Greeley  sat  down  to 
express  his  views  on  slavery,  protection,  Whiggism,  Republicanism, 
Henry  Clay,  or  on  any  of  his  other  favorite  themes,  there  wasn't 
any  other  side,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned.  He  wrote  with  the 
serene  confidence  of  one  who  is  enunciating  axioms,  and.  although 
his  utterances  did  not  invariably  harmonize  with  one  another  — 
the  utterances  of  progressive  men  seldom  do  —  there  was  an  air  of 
something  very  like  infallibility  about  them.  It  was  not  unnatural, 
therefore,  that  the  Tribune  came  to  be  regarded  by  many  of  its 
readers  as  of  only  less  authority  than  the  Bible  itself.  Mr  Depew, 
at  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Tribune,  brought 
out  this  circumstance  in  his  own  characteristically  racy  way.  We 
quote  from  his  address :  "  '  Why  do  you  look  so  gloomy  ?  '  said  a 
traveler  riding  along  the  highway  in  the  Western  Reserve,  in  the 
old  antislavery  days,  to  a  farmer  who  was  sitting  moodily  on  a 
fence.  '  Because,'  said  the  farmer,  '  my  Democratic  friend  next 
door  got  the  best  of  me  in  an  argument  last  night.  But  when  I 
get  my  semiweekly  Tribune  tomorrow  I'll  knock  the  foundations 
all  out  from  under  him.'  When  I  was  a  lad  in  the  country,"  Mr 
Depew  continued,  "  I  have  frequently  observed  a  man  drive  in  ten 
niiles  to  the  village  post  office  for  his  weekly  Tribune,  and  the  same 
person,  when  term  closed,  came  up  to  the  academy  for  his  boy.  I 
could  see  no  difference  in  the  affectionate  tenderness  and  eager 
pleasure  with  which  he  grasped  his  paper  or  embraced  his  son." 

What  a  political  journalist  Horace  Greeley  was !  In  a  popular 
government  such  as  ours,  a  government  through  parties,  politics 
is  virtually  a  continuous  performance.    While  he  was  as  yet  but  a 


Il6  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

little  more  than  a  baby  he  became  immersed  in  politics  and  he 
remained  immersed  in  them  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  may  not, 
indeed,  have  compiled  election  returns  in  his  cradle,  but  he  informs 
us  that  he  was  "  an  ardent  politician  when  not  yet  half  old  enough 
to  vote."  In  his  "  Recollections  "  he  recollects  more  politics  than 
anything  else.  He  came  to  know  the  political  complexion  of  the 
entire  country  about  as  thoroughly  as  a  ward  leader  knows  the 
politics  of  his  ward.  One  of  the  stories  illustrative  of  his  genius 
for  remembering  election  figures  relates  that  a  messenger  came 
into  the  Tribune  office  the  night  of  a  presidential  election  with 
telegrams,  one  of  which  read  that  a  certain  small  town  in  southern 
Ohio  had  given  the  Republican  ticket  a  majority  of  two  hundred. 
Mr  Greeley  listened  while  the  telegram  was  being  read  and  then 
observed,  "  That  town  gave  us  two  hundred  and  twenty  majority 
the  last  time."  He  was  an  indefatigable  and  enthusiastic  party  man, 
striving  with  all  his  might  for  Whig  or  Republican  success.  Never- 
theless, he  refused  to  allow  politics  to  interfere  with  the  exercise 
of  his  private  judgment.  To  employ  a  political  phrase,  politics 
never  got  the  delegates  away  from  his  independence.  He  per- 
manently retained  the  captaincy  of  his  own  soul.  "  I  accept  un- 
reservedly," he  once  wrote,  "  the  views  of  no  man,  dead  or  living. 
'  The  master  has  said  it,'  was  never  conclusive  with  me.  Even 
though  I  have  found  him  right  nine  times,  I  do  not  take  his  tenth 
proposition  on  trust;  unless  that  also  be  proved  sound  I  reject  it." 
In  accordance  with  this  unreserved  declaration  of  independence  was 
the  fair  warning  which  he  addressed  to  whom  it  might  concern,  in 
starting  the  Tribune,  that  the  paper  was  not  going  to  be  a  sub- 
servient party  organ.  "  Earnestly  believing,"  he  frankly  said,  "  that 
the  political  revolution  which  has  called  William  Henry  Harrison 
to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  nation  was  a  triumph  of  right,  reason 
and  public  good  over  error  and  sinister  ambition,  the  Tribune  will 
give  to  the  new  administration  a  frank  and  cordial  but  manly  and 
independent  support,  judging  it  always  by  its  acts  and  commending 
those  only  so  far  as  they  shall  seem  calculated  to  sul)serve  the  great 
end  of  all  government  —  the  welfare  of  the  ]:)eople."  To  the  same 
effect,  but  more  emphatic,  is  the  account  which  he  gives  in  his 
"  Recollections  "  of  the  place  in  New  York  journalism  which  he 
intended  that  the  Tribune  should  make  for  itself.  "  My  leading 
idea  was,"  he  explains,  "  the  establishment  of  a  journal  removed 
alike  from  servile  partisanship,  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  gagged, 
mincing  neutrality  on  the  other.     .     .     .     T  believed   there  was  a 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  1 17 

happy  medium  between  these  extremes  —  a  position  from  which  a 
journalist  might  openly  and  heartily  advocate  the  principles  and 
commend  the  measures  of  that  party  to  which  his  convictions  allied 
him,  yet  frankly  dissent  from  its  course  on  a  particular  question, 
and  even  denounce  its  candidates  if  they  were  shown  to  be  deficient 
in  capacity  or  (far  worse)  in  integrity."  Roscoe  Conkling  once 
affirmed  that  he  did  not  know  how  to  belong  to  a  party  a  little. 
Air  Greeley  fought  a  good  fight  for  the  Whig  party  and  for  the 
Republican  party.  Neither  of  these  organizations  had  in  its  ser- 
vice a  stouter  champion  than  he.  But,  although  he  did  not  belong 
to  them  a  "  little,"  but  a  great  deal,  he  did  not  belong  to  either  so 
much  as  to  hesitate  to  criticize  party  measures  or  party  representa- 
tives wdienever  the  conclusion  was  forced  upon  him  that  they 
deserved  criticism.  "  To  thine  own  self  be  true  "  was  an  admoni- 
tion to  which  he  ever  rendered  implicit  obedience. 

I  have  thus  touched  upon  the  leading  sources  of  Mr  Greeley's 
conspicuous  success  as  a  journalist.  It  was  a  logical  success  —  the 
natural  result  of  a  wise  use  of  great  gifts  and  great  opportunities. 
Wendell  Phillips,  wdiile  sharply  assailing  the  newspaper  press,  paid 
it  W'hat  was  really  a  superb  compliment.  He  gave  it  as  his  opinion 
that  America  owed  to  the  newspapers  one-half,  if  not  more,  of  her 
development.  It  is  not  too  much  to  assert  that  Horace  Greeley 
contributed  in  a  greater  degree  than  any  other  journalist  of  his 
day  to  that  development,  by  his  incessant  activity  in  behalf  of  the 
forces  which  make  for  progress  of  the  best  sort. 

I  am  tempted,  before  concluding,  to  tell  two  stories  about  Mr 
Greeley  of  which  I  am  especially  fo'nd.  One  of  them  was  a  favorite 
of  George  William  Curtis,  and  this  is  his  version  of  it : 

"  \\'hen  Horace  Greeley  was  in  Paris  he  was  one  morning  looking 
with  an  American  friend  at  the  pictures  of  the  Louvre  and  talking 
of  this  country.  '  The  fact  is,'  said  Air  Greeley,  '  that  what  we  need 
is  a  darned  good  licking.'  An  Englishman  who  stood  by  and  heard 
the  conversation  smiled  eagerly  as  if  he  knew  a  nation  that  would 
like  to  administer  the  castigation.  '  Yes,  sir,'  said  he  complacently, 
rubbing  his  hands  with  appetite  and  joining  in  the  conversation. 
'  that  is  just  what  you  do  want.'  '  But  the  difficulty  is,'  continued 
Mr  Greeley  to  his  friend,  as  if  he  had  heard  nothing,  '  the  difficulty 
is  that  there  is  no  nation  in  the  world  that  can  lick  us.'  " 

The  other  story  was  told  me  by  the  late  Clinton  B.  Fisk  —  for 
whom  possibly  some  of  you  failed  to  vote  when  he  was  the  Pro- 
hibition candidate  for  the  presidency  in  1888.  I  met  Mr  Fisk  at 
a  Rutgers  College  dinner,  and   in   the  course  of  conversation   Air 


Il8  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Greeley  was  mentioned.  "  I  knew  Mr  Greeley  very  well,"  said 
Mr  Fisk,  "  and  had  many  a  long  talk  with  him.  After  the  Civil 
War  we  were  accustomed  when  we  met  to  discuss  it  from  many 
points  of  view.  I  recall  an  occasion  when  Mr  Greeley  concluded  all 
he  had  to  say  in  regard  to  a  certain  point  by  remarking,  '  Clinton, 
the  more  I  think  of  it  the  more  firmly  convinced  I  become  that  just 
as  soon  as  the  war  was  over  we  ought  to  have  freely  and  fully 
forgiven  all  our  southern  brethren  —  the  devil  take  them!'"  The 
story  illustrated  what  his  war  policy  always  revealed,  his  loving 
kindness  toward  the  South,  and  emphasized  in  a  droll  way,  that  in 
spite  of  that  loving  kindness,  he  had  become  very  tired  of  the 
southern  question. 

Members  of  Typographical  Union  No.  6,  you  may  well  be  proud 
tliat  this  illustrious  American  who  began  the  battle  of  life  as  a 
typesetter,  a  veritable  printer's  devil,  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
the  first  president  of  your  organization.  You  do  well  to  celebrate 
the  centennial  of  his  birth,  for  to  ponder  upon  what  Horace  Greeley 
was  and  did  is  an  exercise  at  once  pleasant  and  profitable.  It  is  a 
potent  incentive  to  worthy  living.  It  refreshes  our  faith  in  human 
nature.  It  is  full  of  encouragement  to  the  youth  of  our  land  who 
find  themselves,  as  he  found  himself  when  a  lad,  poor  and  friend- 
less, at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  of  fortune.  Mr  Greeley  has  taken 
his  place  in  history  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  journalism  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  He  had  his  eccentricities,  his  weaknesses,  his 
limitations.  No  man  of  his  day  had  more  fun  poked  at  him  or 
was  a  more  frequent  target  for  caricature.  But  he  could  have  dis- 
posed of  his  critics  by  saying  to  them  what  Cromwell  said  to  the 
artist  to  whom  he  was  sitting  for  his  portrait,  "  Paint  me  as  I  am, 
warts  and  all."  Cromwell  could  afford  to  be  thus  painted  because 
he  was  Cromwell.  Today  Horace  Greeley  looms  large,  and  his 
shortcomings  seem  but  the  small  dust  of  the  balance  because  they 
were  the  shortcomings  of  such  a  man.  One  of  his  biographers 
asserts  that  Mr  Greeley  never  was  a  "  man  of  the  world."  No,  he 
was  not;  but  a  man  does  not  have  to  be  that  sort  of  a  man  to  be  a 
man  of  the  best  kind.  Indeed,  there  is  the  highest  authority  for 
holding  that  to  "  become  as  a  little  child  "  is  to  attain  to  what  is 
best  in  manhood.  Mr  Greeley  possessed  in  its  fulness  the  childlike 
spirit.  He  had  a  child's  enthusiasm,  a  child's  tenderness  of  heart, 
a  child's  confiding  disposition,  a  child's  unsophisticated  simplicity. 
His  life  was  a  strenuous  one,  full  of  vicissitudes.  Neglect,  appre- 
ciation, joy,  sorrow,  failure,  success,  obscurity,  fame  —  he  experi- 
enced all  of  them  but  was  overcome  by  none.     He  knew  how  to  be 


L. 

From  collection  political  tokens  State  Historian  J.  A.  Holden 
CAMPAIGN   OF    i860 

Badges  worn  by  partizans  of  the  principal  parties  of  that  period  with 
a  rare  "Jeff  Davis"  medalet 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  II9 

abased  and  how  to  abound  and  in  all  times  of  his  prosperity  and 
in  all  times  of  his  adversity  he  kept  faith  with  the  ideals  which 
dominated  his  soul  when,  before  he  had  attained  to  man's  estate, 
he  came  to  New  York  to  seek  his  fortune.  It  is  as  a  journalist 
that  I  have  been  considering  him,  but  because  what  the  catechism 
calls  "  the  chief  end  of  man  "  is  not  achievement  but  character,  I 
prefer,  in  closing  my  address,  to  contemplate  Mr  Greeley  apart  from 
his  vocation  as  a  member  of  that  Brotherhood  of  Man  whose  wel- 
fare he  did  so  much  to  promote.  When  Walter  Scott  realized  that 
for  him  the  "  inevitable  hour  "  was  about  to  strike,  he  gave  his 
son-in-law,  Lockhart,  to  whom  he  was  devotedly  attached,  a  fare- 
well greeting,  and,  although  Sir  Walter  was  one  of  the  leading 
literary  lights  of  his  age,  literature  had  no  place  in  that  valedictory. 
He  simply  said  to  Lockhart,  so  one  of  his  biographers  tells  us, 
"  Be  a  good  man,  my  dear."  If  Horace  Greeley,  in  response  to  the 
numberless  expressions  of  love  and  admiration  which  his  one 
hundredth  birthday  has  inspired  could  send  a  message  to  you  and 
the  rest  who  celebrate  him,  we  may  be  sure  that  he  would  say 
something  which  would  make  for  the  betterment  of  all  classes  and 
conditions  of  humanity.  There  was  much  in  his  sterling  manhood 
which  suggested  Abraham  Lincoln.  They  had  their  differences  in 
war  times,  but  were  ever  closely  allied  liy  the  fervent,  unselfish 
patriotism  which  they  possessed  in  common.  So  there  is  full  warrant 
for  believing  that  the  centennial  message  of  Horace  Greeley  would 
harmonize  with,  and  perchance  re-echo,  the  solemn  admonition  which 
Abraham  Lincoln  addressed  to  his  countrymen  from  the  hallowed 
ground  of  Gettysburg,  "  See  to  it  that  government  of  the  people, 
by  the  people  and  for  the  people  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth." 

LETTERS 

So  far  as  is  known,  the  oldest  printer  in  the  metropolis  who  holds 
a  certificate  of  membership  signed  by  Horace  Greeley  as  president 
of  the  New  York  Printers'  Union  is  Charles  Vogt,  who  was  born 
in  1823.  We  quote  part  of  his  letter,  which  was  read  at  the 
meeting: 

"  A  desire  to  add  a  meed  of  praise  and  admiration  to  that  of  the 
host  of  others  has  induced  me  to  note  a  few  incidents  in  the  life  of 
Horace  Greeley,  that  grand  old  man,  whom  I  saw  quite  early  in 
his  professional  career;  when  he  was  exerting  all  his  intellectual  and 
physical  powers  to  achieve  success  in  establishing  the  New  Yorker 
in  1838,  when  the  office  was  located  in  the  rear  building  of  29  Ann 
street.     There  were  three  hands  besides  myself  —  Mr  Bowe,  the 


I20  THE    UMVEKS1T\     ()!•    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

foreman,  Mr  W'incliester  and  Air  Swain,  who  set  up  Ihc  piece  of 
music  thai  always  graced  tlie  last  page  of  that  poinilar  newspaper. 
Mr  Greeley  would  often  '  lend  a  hand  '  when  the  paper  was  behind, 
by  settin<i^  uj)  a  few  stickfuls.  J  lis  bent  attitude  while  standing  at 
llie  case,  and  lujbbing  motion  while  setting  type,  are  vividly  impressed 
on  my  memory.  If  he  '  pied  '  a  line,  his  proverbial  equanimity  was 
not  disturbed  thereby.  .Apropos  of  pie,  it  was  his  custom  every 
Saturday  at  noon  —  the  paper  having  been  printed  and  mailed  — 
to  provide  what  was  designated  as  a  '  pie  gorge,'  to  which 
we  were  freely  invited.  About  a  dozen  good-sized  pies,  fresh 
from  the  famous  pie  bakery  of  Russel,  in  Spruce  street,  would 
grace  the  imposing  stone.  Ample  justice  was  done  to  the 
delicious  pastries,  especially  by  the  great  editor  himself,  who,  re- 
leased from  the  week's  toil  and  anxiety,  gave  full  rein  to  his  natural 
tlow  of  humor,  and  indulged  in  witticisms  and  anecdotes  that  were 
a  feast  for  the  soul,  besides  being  a  digestive  assistant. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  financial  difficulties  that  beset  him  while 
publishing  the  New  Yorker,  he  never  failed  to  pay  his  hands 
promptly  every  cent  they  had  earned.  He  seemed  to  regard  that 
obligation  as  a  sacred  one;  and  so.  too,  with  regard  to  the  same  ob- 
ligations to  the  Tribune  printers.  He  was  truly  the  workingriian's 
best  friend  in  all  that  the  term  implies,  as  his  newspaper  fully  evi- 
denced." 

These  letters  were  received  from  Mr  W.  D.  Howells,  the  author, 
and  Mr  H.  M.  Alden,  editor  of  Harper's  Magazine : 

Hamilton,  Bermuda,  Jan.  ly,  igii 
Dear  Mr  McCabe: 

I  should  be  glad  and  proud  to  come  to  No.  6's  celebration  of  the 
Greeley  centenary.  But  I  am  almost  a  hundred  years  old  myself, 
by  my  personal  almanac,  which  has  been  sent  forward  by  two  attacks 
of  the  grippe,  and  I  can  only  join  you  in  the  cordial  sense  of  unity 
which  never  ceases  to  bind  printers  together.  Greeley  was  one  of 
the  best  of  us,  and  we  ought  to  keep  his  memory  green. 

Yours  sincerely 

W.  D.  Howells 

New  York,  January  26,  ipii 
Dear  Mr  McCabe: 

As  I  live  in  the  country  and  am  much  enfeebled  by  recent  illness, 
I  am  unable  to  accept  the  kind  invitation  of  your  committee  to  the 
meeting  commemorating  the  centenary  of  Horace  Greeley's  birth. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  121 

Along  with  Lincoln  and  old  Ben  Franklin,  Horace  Greeley  ranks 
as  a  singular  type,  eminently  original  and  individual,  of  the  plain 
American ;  and  it  is  peculiarly  fitting  that  this  centenary  of  his  birth 
should  be  celebrated  under  the  auspices  of  Typographical  Union 
No.  6.  of  which  he  was  the  first  president. 
With  hearty  sympathy  with  your  undertaking 

Yours  faithfully 

H.  M.  Alden 


THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  MONU- 
MENT, FEBRUARY  3,   1914 


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THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE   MONUMENT, 
FEBRUARY   3,    1914 

The  statue  itself,  picturesquely  located,  overlooking  the  grounds 
which  Greeley  so  dearly  loved  and  on  which  he  found  rest  and 
recreation  in  rustic,  open-air  employments  and  in  farming,  is  the 
logical  climax  of  the  sentiments  aroused  by  the  centenary  memorials 
held  in  Greeley's  honor  in  many  different  parts  of  the  country. 

Here  we  may  w^ell  recall  what  Greeley  said  of  his  "  house  in  the 
woods  "  as  he  affectionately  called  his  Chappaqua  home :  "  I  think 
we  all  as  we  grow  old,  love  to  feel  and  know  that  some  spot  of  earth 
is  peculiarly  our  own  —  ours  to  possess  and  to  enjoy,  ours  to  im- 
prove and  to  transmit  to  our  ciiildren." 

Though  the  weather  was  unfavorable,  the  roads  and  fields  were 
thronged  with  people  intent  to  see  the  enduring  memorial  and  to 
listen  to  the  eulogies  that  w^ere  to  form  part  of  the  ceremonies  of 
the  unveiling.  So  eager  and  interested  was  everybody  in  what  was 
going  on  that  no  one  seemed  to  care  for  the  wind  or  the  drizzling 
rain. 

The  holiday  spirit  was  in  the  air,  and  there  was  evident  a  feeling 
of  satisfaction  that  Chappaqua  village  had  at  last  a  statue  worthy 
of  her  hero  and  of  the  affection  that  was  felt  for  him  by  the  old 
friends  who  knew  him  and  by  the  younger  folks  whom  the  tradi- 
tion of  their  elders  had  taught  to  love  him. 

Benignant,  beaming  and  thankful,  in  mien  and  feature  very  like 
her  father,  was  Mrs  Gabrielle  Greeley  Clendenin,  the  picture  of 
joy,  as  she  pulled  the  string  that  drew  apart  the  banner  of  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  revealing  the  wonderful  bronze  figure  upon  its 
beautiful  pedestal.  The  goal  had  been  reached.  The  people  felt 
that  the  labors  of  the  memorial  committee  of  the  Chappaqua  His- 
torical Society  had  been  crowned  with  success. 

The  well-arranged  program  for  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  was 
carried  out  under  the  careful  supervision  of  President  John  I.  D. 
Bristol,  who  neglected  nothing  to  do  justice  to  the  occasion. 

INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS 

Rev.  Otis  Tiffany  Barnes,  Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  at  Chappaqua,  was  the  temporary  chairman,  and  addressed 
an  assemblage  of  some  eight  hundred  people  in  the  following  words : 

We  have  assembled  here  this  afternoon  to  honor  the  memory  of 
a  great  and  good  man,  Horace  Greeley.    At  a  considerable  expendi- 

125 


126  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

ture  of  time  and  labor  and  thought  and  money,  a  statue  of  this 
famous  man  has  been  erected,  and  we  are  at  this  time  to  witness  its 
unveiHng  and  its  formal  dedication  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

It  is  my  privilege  to  welcome  you  to  these  exercises  in  the  name 
of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society,  a  society  founded  to  per- 
petuate records  of  great  lives  and  noteworthy  events  connected  with 
our  community,  "  to  summon  up  remembrance  of  things  past  "  — 
lest  wc  forget.  We,  the  people  of  this  community,  are  proud  of 
the  fact  that  the  name  of  Chappaqua  is  inseparably  joined  witli  the 
name  of  this  great,  good  man.  We  admire  his  wisdom,  we  reverence 
his  character,  we  cherish  his  high  ideals  and  principles,  wc  honor 
him  for  his  influence  in  national  affairs  and  for  his  associations  in 
the  life  of  this  community.  We  are  glad  that  strangers  are  met 
with  us  today  —  representatives  of  city.  State  and  the  press. 

To  one  and  all  we  extend  a  cordial,  hearty  welcome  —  to  the 
members  of  his  family,  to  those  who  knew  and  loved  him,  to  his 
friends  and  associates  and  to  all  who  have  come  out  of  interest  or 
curiosity.  We  welcome  you,  and  we  would  bid  you  remember,  as 
we  listen  to  the  addresses  which  are  to  follow,  that,  in  the  words 
of  the  poet : 

When  a  great  man  dies, 

For  years  bej^ond  our  ken 
The  light  he  leaves  behind  him, 

Lies  upon  the  paths  o£  men. 

There  is  light  upon  our  paths  today,  and  it  shines  from  the  life  of 
Horace  Greeley. 

The  invocation  will  now  be  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Dr  Clendenin. 
ADDRESS  AND  INVOCATION 

REV.  DR   F.   M.   CLENDENIN 

For  the  little  book  I  hold  in  my  hand,  I  searched  the  land  over 
for  some  twenty  years  but  in  vain,  there  being  as  far  as  I  could 
learn  but  one  copy  left  in  the  world.  This  copy  I  could  secure  with 
neither  love  nor  money,  but  last  year  the  owner  of  it  —  Mr  William 
Erving  —  gave  it  to  Mrs  Clendenin  with  some  very  tender  and 
affectionate  words  regarding  her  good  father. 

It  is  a  book  which,  humanly  speaking,  kept  Horace  Greeley  in 

New  York,  making  it  the  center  of  his  active  life,  for,  when  he  was 

•about  to  leave  New  York,  discouraged  because  he  could  not  find 

employment  there,  he  was  given  the  work  of  setting  the  type  of 


DR    AND    MRS    CLENDENIN    AND    DAUGHTER    GABRIELLE 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  \2'] 

this  little  New  Testament,  printed  by  John  T.  West  &  Company 
in  1832.  How  nearly  he  came  to  returning  to  some  country  print- 
ing office,  his  own  words  show  :  "  I  returned  to  my  lodging  on  Sat- 
urday evening,  thoroughly  weary,  disheartened  and  disgusted  with 
New  York,  and  resolved  to  shake  its  dust  from  my  feet  next  Mon- 
day morning,  while  I  could  still  leave  with  money  in  my  pocket, 
and  before  its  almshouse  could  foreclose  upon  me."  From  this  book, 
which  in  so  many  ways  deeply  influenced  his  life,  it  would  seem 
fitting  that  I  read  some  words  before  the  invocation  which  is  to 
follow. 

(Dr  Clendenin  here  read  the  Beatitudes  from  the  fifth  chapter  of 
Saint  Matthew;  and  offered  the  following  prayer:) 

O  God  our  Father,  the  fountain  of  all  wisdom,  the  source  of  all 
strength,  we.  Thy  children,  desire  to  invoke  on  this  and  on  all  our 
work  Thy  Heavenly  benediction. 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  courage  that  has  enabled  Thy  servants 
in  every  age  to  bear  witness  for  truth  and  righteousness  and  to 
defend  by  word  and  deed  the  downtrodden  and  oppressed. 

Especially  we  thank  Thee  for  the  life  and  work  of  him  whose 
image  and  memorial  we  here  this  day  unveil. 

We  thank  Thee  for  his  stainless  and  upright  life,  for  his  clear 
vision  of  duty,  for  his  fearless  loyalty  to  what  he  believed  to  be 
the  truth,  for  his  unflinching  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  slave  and 
his  undying  hatred  of  all  tyranny  and  of  all  injustice  and  wrong. 

We  pray  Thee,  Almighty  God,  that,  as  this  memorial  shall  stand 
here  through  the  years  to  come,  men  may  see  in  it  the  image  of 
an  honest  and  fearless  life,  and  that  discouraged  hearts,  as  they 
pass  by,  may  find  new  courage  in  this  silent  presence,  and  may 
see  in  it  how  neither  poverty  nor  obscurity,  loneliness  nor  misun- 
derstanding need  dismay  a  man  who  strives  for  the  best,  in  the 
fear  of  God,  and  with  the  gifts  that  God  has  given  him. 

We  thank  Thee  that  in  his  life  we  may  recall  the  example  of 
one  who  truly  loved  his  neighbor  as  himself  and  who  also  so  regu- 
larly bowed  head  and  heart  in  deep  and  reverent  worship  of  Thee. 
Bless  and  prosper,  we  pray  Thee,  this  place  and  village  which  for 
so  many  years  gave  rest  to  his  body,  with  cheer  and  comfort  to 
his  mind  and  heart.  Guide  and  keep  this  land  and  nation  he  so 
truly  loved.  And  grant  that,  having  served  Thee  in  our  generation, 
w-e  may  await  like  him  ''  with  an  awe  that  is  not  fear  and  with  a 
consciousness  of  demerit  which  does  not  exclude  hope,  the  opening 
of  the  gates  of  the  Eternal  World."  We  ask  this  and  all  else  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  Our  Lord.    Amen. 


12S  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Mr  Barnes:  It  is  most  fitting,  of  course,  that  a  member  of  Mr 
Greeley's  family  unveil  the  statue.  This  honor  has  been  given  to 
Mrs  Clcnclenin,  daughter  of  Mr  Greeley,  who  will  now  unveil  the 
statue. 

The  statue  was  unveiled  by  Mrs  Clendenin,  amid  the  cheers  of 
the  assemblage. 

Mr  Barnes:  Most  of  us  know,  I  suppose,  that  this  statue  was 
erected  largely  through  the  tireless  labors  of  one  man,  who  is  now 
to  address  us,  a  man  who  in  many  ways  has  benefited  our  com- 
munity, a  man  who,  becoming  vitalized  by  the  life  of  Horace  Gree- 
ley, resolved  thai  his  statue  should  be  erected  here.  We  speak  of 
1  lorace  Greeley  as  the  Grand  Old  Man  of  Chappaqua.  I  want  to 
introduce  to  you  a  grand  man,  the  Grand  Young  Man  of  Chappa- 
qua, one  who,  though  advanced  in  years,  yet  with  the  passage  of  each 
year  grows  younger  and  brighter  and  more  blooming  —  the  Grand 
Young  Man  of  Chappaqua  —  our  genial  friend  and  neighbor,  Mr 
John  I.  D.  Bristol. 

PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS 

JOHN   I.  D.   BRISTOL,   PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHAPPAQUA   HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 

Crowding  upon  my  mind,  on  this  splendid  occasion,  are  the  epi- 
grammatic utterances  of  those  great  Americans  whose  names  are 
so  dear  to  us,  whose  achievements  constitute  so  much  of  our  history, 
and  whose  lives  afford  such  grand  examples  for  all  to  emulate. 

These  ever-living  expressions  were  born  in  periods  when  men 
rose  to  heights  of  grander  manhood :  in  the  early  struggles  for 
national  life;  during  the  dark  Revolutionary  days  when  the  fate 
of  an  infant  nation  hung  in  the  balance  of  war  and  desolation ;  when 
the  stirring  events  of  the  War  of  1812  were  rapidly  making  history; 
during  the  mental  strain  of  the  Rebellion's  exciting  days;  and  in 
the  later  periods,  when  peace  followed  war  —  calming  the  fears  and 
passions  of  men. 

These  inspiring  American  utterances  are  our  inherited  legacies  — 
the  constellations  that  will  ever  gleam  in  the  enduring  skies  of 
national  memory.  They  are  the  utterances  that  created,  fostered, 
sustained  and  perpetuated  that  American  patriotism  and  mentality 
which  must,  in  the  end,  evolve  a  long-continued  era  of  progression 
that  will  ultimately  prove  the  parent  of  a  nobler  humanity  and  es- 
tablish the  universal  brotherhood  of  man. 


Albert  E.  Henschel  Miss  Ruth  Erlich 

John  I.  D.  Bristol,  president 
EdwinI  Bedell,  secretary  Miss  Edith  Dorothea  Bedell 

PERSONS    PROMINENT   IN   MONUMENT    UNVEILING,    CHAPPAQUA, 
FEBRUARY   3,    I9I4 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I29 

In  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses,  in  May  1765,  a  new  member, 
a  young  American  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  introduced  a  resolution 
opposing  the  stamp  act,  and,  in  supporting  his  measure,  said :  "  Cae- 
sar had  his  Brutus;  Charles  the  First  his  Cromwell;  and  George 

the  Third "  ("  Treason!  "  cried  the  speaker  of  the  house,  and 

from  all  parts  of  the  assemblage  the  cry  was  echoed.)  History 
relates  that,  "  with  a  voice  of  thunder  and  the  look  of  a  god,"  the 

young' orator  continued,  " may  profit  by  their  example!    If  this 

be  treason,  make  the  most  of  it !  " 

\\'ere  not  these  words  of  Patrick  Henry  the  forerunners  of  a 
newly  created  mentality,  which,  ten  years  later,  received  with  uni- 
versal acclaim  his  immortal  utterance :  "  Give  me  liberty,  or  give 
me  death !  "  ? 

The  foundation  of  all  goodness  and  all  greatness  is  the  quickening 
intensity  and  the  stimulated  association  of  the  mental  faculties  from 
which  these  higher  and  grander  traits  of  character  are  derived.  The 
firm  and  emphatic  promulgation  of  the  action  of  these  faculties, 
through  the  medium  of  expression,  has  everything  to  do  with  the 
growth  and  cultivation  of  a  like  mentality  in  others. 

What  political  "  grafter  "  or  demagogue  of  today  can  read  the 
reply  of  General  Reed,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  when  offered  a 
tempting  bribe,  and  not  feel  a  sense  of  burning  shame  at  his  words : 
"  I  am  poor,  very  poor,  but  your  King  is  not  rich  enough  to  buy 
me!"? 

What  American  can  ever  be  unpatriotic,  in  recalling  that  Nathan 
Hale,  when  he  was  about  to  be  executed  as  a  spy,  said :  "I  only 
regret  that  I  have  but  one  Hfe  to  lose  for  my  country!  "? 

What  mind  can  fail  to  be  inspired  to  a  greater  sense  of  right  and 
goodness,  by  these  words  of  President  Garfield :  "A  noble  life, 
crowned  with  heroic  death,  rises  above  and  outlives  the  pride  and 
pomp  and  glory  of  the  mightiest  empire  of  the  earth"? 

When  perverted  caution  acts,  and  despair  with  depressing  touch 
])lights  our  hope,  how  cheering  are  the  words  of  that  naval  wonder, 
John  Paul  Jones,  who,  when  asked  by  the  captain  of  the  English 
ship,  Scrapis,  if  he  had  struck  his  colors,  sent  over  the  smoke-laden, 
wave-tossed  ocean,  this  characteristic  reply :  "  I  have  not  yet  begun 
to  fight !  " 

Or,  when  oppressed  with  difficulties  that  o'erwhelm  our  personal- 
ity, how  inspiring  it  is  to  recall  the  epigrammatic  signal  of  General 
Sherman,  wig-wagged  from  the  heights  of  Kenesaw  to  the  foe- 
surrounded  General  Corse  at  Allatoona :  "  Hold  the  fort !  /  am 
coming!  " 


130  THE    UNIXERSITV    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

As  "  Peace  hath  her  victories  no  less  renown'd  than  war,"  so 
are  great  utterances  in  peaceful  times  no  less  inspiring  than  when 
the  land  is  rent  with  calls  to  arms,  the  parades  of  soldiers  and  the 
sorrowing  for  the  dead  and  dying.  I  low  true  it  is,  that  the  national 
conscience  has  been  grandly  stimulated  by  one  of  the  most  sublime 
utterances  of  men,  that  of  Henry  Clay,  who  said :  "  I  would  rather 
be  right,  than  be  President !  " 

So,  too,  Daniel  Webster's  "  Liberty  and  Union,  now  and  forever, 
one  and  inseparable !  "  and  Abraham  Lincoln's  "  Government  of  the 
people,  by  the  people,  for  the  people,  shall  not  perish  from  the 
earth  "  are  words  that  have  made  history,  for  such  utterances  are 
the  foundations  upon  which  nations  are  built. 

When  Washington,  at  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  in  the 
modesty  and  worth  of  his  character,  said,  amid  the  wild  cheering 
of  his  troops,  "  Let  posterity  cheer  for  us,"  he  left  in  these  words 
an  inspiration  for  all  who  strive  to  benefit  humanity. 

American  thought  and  mental  progress,  those  great  factors  of 
human  happiness,  are  closely  associated  with  the  many  epigrammatic 
utterances  with  which  the  pages  of  our  history  abound.  We  can 
allude  to  but  few  of  these  —  regretting  the  omission  of  so  many 
with  which  the  student  of  history  is  familiar  and  which  have  added 
to  the  lasting  fame  of  Stark,  Paine,  Lawrence,  Perry,  Jackson,  Cal- 
houn, Taylor,  Toombs,  Ingersoll,  and  hundreds  of  other  Americans 
on  whom  Time  will  bestow  the  chaplet  of  growing  reverence. 

The  utterances  of  these  men  are  characteristic  of  their  greatness. 
A  sentence  that  lives  through  the  ages,  is  but  an  expression  of  the 
mind  that  gave  it  birth.  How  more  wonderful  by  far,  the  mentality 
whence  the  expression  emanated ! 

The  man  whose  earthly  immortality  we  are  seeking  today  to 
perpetuate  bv  the  unveiling  of  this  magnificent  monument,  gave 
utterance  to  many  great  truths.  From  his  twenty-fourth  year,  in 
1834,  when  the  first  numlDcr  of  the  New  Yorker  was  issued,  down 
through  the  seven  years  subsequent  to  April  loth  of  1841,  the  birth- 
day of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  especially  in  the  columns  of 
that  widclv  known  publication,  the  intellectual  and  moral  supremacy 
of  Horace  Greeley  was  manifest  in  utterances  that  were  peculiarly 
his  own,  and  these  utterances  had  much  to  do  with  the  real  progress 
that  humanity  has  made. 

And,  though  an  agitator  of  tremendous  power,  there  breathed 
through  the  speeches  and  writings  of  Horace  Greeley,  the  tones 
of  moderation  and  of  candor,  and  above  all.  the  rare  spirit  of  a 
gentle  humanity.     He  was  a  master  of  the  language  of  the  higher 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I3I 

faculties  of  men.  Gifted  as  he  was,  with  a  supreme  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  he  knew  that,  normally,  reason  does  not  storm,  con- 
scientiousness parade  in  the  grotesque  dress  of  bluster,  nor  benevo- 
lence advertise  its  good  deeds. 

With  what  a  feeling  of  admiration  and  wonder  do  we  contem- 
plate today,  the  wide  and  varied  range  of  the  utterances  of  this 
one  man !  His  opposition  to  human  slavery,  his  liberal  religious  con- 
victions, his  strong  advocacy  of  temperance,  his  all-powerful  argu- 
ments in  favor  of  the  protection  of  American  industries,  his  fre- 
quently expressed  opinions  on  the  practical  affairs  of  life,  including 
marriage  and  divorce,  the  constant  calls  upon  him  for  addresses  at 
agricultural  fairs,  and  the  discussions  of  the  great  questions  of  the 
day  upon  the  lecture  platform  —  all  gave  him  opportunities  such  as 
fell  to  the  lot  of  no  other  American,  to  give  utterance  to  views  and 
suggestions  befitting  these  great  occasions.  And  can  any  one  at 
this  day  doubt  that  the  wide  popularity  of  Horace  Greeley  arose 
from  the  able  manner  in  which  he  satisfied  the  growing  intelligence 
of  his  large  and  numerous  audiences? 

One  of  the  most  famous  of  his  utterances  —  a  sentence  of  but  six 
words  —  sent,  it  is  estimated,  over  two  million  of  the  younger  and 
brighter  men  of  the  East  into  the  western  states.  After  securing 
their  fortunes  and  competencies  there,  many  of  them  returned  to 
their  eastern  homes  and  became  leaders  in  finance,  science,  educa- 
tion, and  reformatory  measures.  And  all  were  thankful  to  our 
great  adviser  for  having  said,  "  Go  west,  young  man,  go  west !  " 

As  the  mind  of  Horace  Greeley  was  chiefly  manifested  through 
its  higher  faculties,  his  talents  were,  naturally,  associated  with  the 
great  economic  reforms  of  the  day.  Had  he  lived  in  our  time,  we 
feel  that  he  would  have  been  chiefly  noted  in  two  directions  —  the 
radical  reformation  of  our  currency  system,  and  as  an  advocate  of 
universal  peace.  Had  Greeley  and  Webster  been  of  our  generation, 
the  great  Massachusetts  Senator,  echoing  the  praise  he  gave  to  Alex- 
ander Hamilton,  might  well  have  said  of  our  Chappaqua  reformer : 
"  He  smote  the  rock  of  the  national  resources,  and  abundant  streams 
of  revenue  gushed  forth.  He  touched  the  dead  corpse  of  the  public 
credit,  and  it  sprang  upon  its  feet." 

Certainly,  Horace  (ireeley  could  not  have  rested  under  the  j)res- 
ent  growing  financial  plight  of  our  own  and  other  countries,  arising 
from  the  lessening  gold  value  year  by  year  being  held  as  uniform 
and  unchanging,  with  the  result  that  all  necessities  of  life  must  rise 
in  the  scale  of  price  to  meet  a  wholly  fictitious  standard. 

General  Grant,  in  his  letter  of  May  29,  1868,  accepting  the  nomi- 


i32  THE  u-xniiusiTv  of  the  state  of  new  york 

nation  to  the  presidency,  placed  upon  the  enduring  records  this 
sublime  utterance:  "Let  us  have  peace  I  "  Had  Horace  Greeley 
lived  in  our  day,  the  question  of  universal  peace  with  him  would  not 
ha\e  ix'cn  a  minor  one,  to  be  restricted  to  the  dissemination  of  peace 
liieralure,  after-dimicr  speeches,  or  as  a  factor  in  the  education  of 
school  children. 

In  place  of  all  of  this,  our  great  reformer  would  have  advocated 
scune  such  measure  as  the  sending  of  a  national  conmiittee  of  ten 
or  twenty  eminent  Americans  to  the  Court  of  St  James,  with  con- 
vincing peace  arguments,  and  looking  to  the  addition  to  that  com- 
mittee of  the  same  numher  of  prominent  Englishmen,  for  a  like 
visit  to  the  War  Lord  of  Germany.  Then,  with  the  addition  of  the 
same  number  of  leading  Germans,  the  committee  would  have  pro- 
ceeded to  Paris;  and  so  on,  in  a  round  of  visits  to  all  the  great  cap- 
itals and  rulers  of  the  world,  carrying  with  it  the  unanswerable  argu- 
ments of  peace,  with  the  ultimate  result  that  a  universal  treaty 
among  all  intelligent  and  progressive  nations  would  have  been  en- 
tered into,  and  war  and  its  ravages  be  no  more. 

When  we  consider  that  the  war  expenditure  of  the  United  States 
during  the  last  fiscal  year  —  a  period  of  peace  —  amounted  to  the 
enormous  sum  of  ^^470.063, 369,  while  the  salaries  of  all  teachers 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  country  in  191 1 — the  latest  available 
data  —  were  but  ^^266,678,471;  that  the  cost  of  one  of  our  great 
battleships  exceeds  that  of  any  one  of  several  of  our  most  prominent 
colleges;  that  the  cost  of  firing  a  single  one  of  the  great  guns  of 
these  floating  fortresses  of  steel  would  maintain  a  college  student 
for  ten  months;  and  that,  under  the  militia  law  of  January  21,  1903, 
as  amended  by  the  act  of  May  2",  1908,  over  sixteen  million  of  our 
citizens  are  subject  to  military  duty  —  should  we  not  be  appalled  at 
these  indications  of  the  primitive  and  undeveloped  mental  condition 
of  our  legislators  responsible  for  these  barriers  upon  the  road  of 
progress  ? 

Were  but  a  small  proportion  of  this  enormous  expenditure  ap- 
plied to  the  perpetuation  of  the  name  and  fame  of  our  great  scient- 
ists, educators  and  reformers,  by  means  of  statues  in  the  public 
squares  of  our  cities  and  the  playgrounds  of  our  schools,  a  grander 
mentality  of  American  character  would  be  apparent  in  but  a  few 
generations  to  come. 

To  what  other  economic  uses  the  enormous  war  expenditures  of 
the  United  States  could  be  devoted,  if  all  of  the  nations  of  the  world 
were  to  be  converted  to  lasting  peace !  It  would  revolutionize  our 
roads,  our  harbors,  our  i)ublic  buildings  and  our  libraries;  house 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  133 

all  of  our  insane  in  homes  of  mental  recovery ;  employ  all  of  our 
Edisons,  Marconis  and  Burbanks.  for  a  lifetime  of  public  education  ; 
and  establish  free  colleges  and  seats  of  learning  in  every  state  of 
our  Union. 

The  Chappaqua  Historical  Society  has  had  no  governmental  aid 
in  the  erection  of  this  splendid  depiction  of  greatness.  It  is  the 
result  of  the  love  and  reverence  borne  by  nearly  two  hundred  people 
for  the  memory  of  him  who  was  philosopher,  reformer,  and  Ameri- 
ca's greatest  editor  —  him  whom  the  gentle  Whittier  called  "  Our 
later  Franklin."  Comprised  in  the  list  of  contributors  to  this  work, 
are  the  millionaire  and  the  man  of  limited  means,  the  teacher  and 
the  scholar,  the  citizen  of  foreign  birth  and  American-born,  the  man 
and  the  woman ;  and  this  great  committee  of  representative  Ameri- 
cans, on  this,  the  one  hundred  and  third  anniversary  of  the  birth  of 
him  who  knew  no  fear  when  Right  stood  by  his  side,  is  consecrating 
this  splendid  example  of  the  sculptor's  art  to  Chappaqua,  to  beau- 
tiful Westchester  county,  to  the  country  and  to  the  future  of  our 
land. 

Who  can  imagine  or  dream  of  the  wonders  that  will  evolve  during 
the  years  that  this  statue  is  to  endure?-  Our  country's  growth,  its 
I)rosperity,  the  discoveries  and  inventions  in  all  the  material  things 
that  will  so  greatly  enhance  the  hapi)iness  of  its  peo]-)le,  its  develop- 
ments in  education,  art  and  economics,  the  newer  and  more  just 
treatment  of  the  criminal  and  the  insane,  the  adjustment  of  the' 
many  vexed  questions  of  capital  and  labor,  and  the  evolvement  of  a 
new  political  economy  and  a  greater  statesmanship  —  all  of  which 
were  favorite  and  constant  topics  of  thought  and  discussion  with 
Horace  Greeley. 

May  this  statue  recall  and  aid  to  perpetuate  for  future  genera- 
tions, the  intellectual  power,  the  goodness,  the  kindness,  the  great- 
ness and  the  marvel  of  intuitive  ])erce]:)tion  that  knew  and  felt  the 
wants  of  the  people  in  all  walks  of  life,  possessed  by  the  man  of 
whom  Bayard  Taylor  has  said :  "  There  were  three  things  which 
he  could  never  learn  :  to  mistrust  human  nature,  to  refuse  help  when- 
ever he  could  give  it,  and  to  disguise  his  honest  opinions." 

This  generation  is  wiser  and  better  in  that  Horace  Greeley  was 
so  commanding  a  figure  in  the  generation  that  preceded  it.  What 
a  lesson  for  the  future  of  the  race!  One  great  man  of  one  genera- 
tion, making  millions  better  in  the  generation  that  follows !  How- 
powerful  a  factor  in  evolving  all  that  is  great  and  good  within  us. 
arises  from  the  emulation  of  the  character  of  those  rare  children 
of  Nature,  about  whose  brows  are  entwined  the  wreaths  of  goodness 


134  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

and  intellectual  power!  They  are  the  moulders  of  the  mental  des- 
tiny of  the  race !  They  are  the  men  whose  portraits,  in  the  grandeur 
of  art,  should  adorn  the  walls  of  our  schoolhouses !  They  are  the 
men  whose  statues,  in  ever  enduring  !)ronze,  should  grace  the  parks 
of  our  land!  They  arc  the  men  of  whom  poets  will  write,  as  Ed- 
mund Clarence  Stedman  has  written  of  Horace  Greeley: 

He  lives  wherever  men  to  men 

In  perilous  hours  his  words  repeat, 
Where  clangs  the  forge,  where  glides  the  pen, 

Where  toil  and  traffic  crowd  the  street ; 
And  in  whatever  time  or  place 

Earth's  purest  souls  their  purpose  strengthen, 
Down  the  broad  pathway  of  our  race 

The  shadow  of  his  name  shall  lengthen. 

At  this  point,  Mr  Bristol  assumed  the  chairmanship  of  the 
meeting. 

President  Bristol:  In  introducing  to  you  our  next  speaker,  it 
seems  fitting  to  say  that,  wherever  the  pnthway  of  ci\"ilization  leads 
and  in  all  lands  where  refinement  has  had  its  birth,  the  surest  sign  of 
a  truly  evolved  manhood  is  a  respect  and  reverence  for  woman. 

Horace  Greeley,  very  early  in  his  life,  strongly  evinced  this  splen- 
did trait  of  character.  It  is  well,  therefore,  that  a  woman  should 
address  us. 

A  great  pleasure  is  now  afforded  our  committee,  in  making  you 
ac(|uainted  with  Miss  Edith  Dorothea  Bedell. 

HORACE  GREELEY  AND  WOMAN  SUFFRAGE 

EDITH    DOROTHEA    BEDELL 

I  have  been  asked  to  say  a  few  words  today,  because,  as  captain 
of  this  district  of  the  New  York  vSuffrage  Association,  I  represent 
the  cause  which  Mr  Greeley  at  one  time  advocated  —  the  cause  of 
woman  suffrage. 

Woman  suft'rage  is  no  longer  an  experiment,  as  it  was  in  Mr 
Greeley's  time.  It  has  existed  in  many  countries  for  years ;  and  its 
success  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it  is  slowly  but  surely  spreading 
over  the  whole  world.  Women  are  now  voting  in  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  Finland  and  Norway;  and  in  our  own  country  in  the  states 
of  Washington.  Oregon,  California,  Idaho.  Arizona,  Colorado, 
Wyoming.  Utah,  Kansas.  Illinois  and  in  Alaska.  In  Wyoming, 
where  women  have  had  the  franchise  since  1869,  suft'ragists  for  the 
last  twenty  years  have  had  a  standing  challenge  to  their  opponents 


Pern-  Brevoort  Turner  Alarsden  G.  Scott 

Richard  E.  Day  Litt.D. 
William  Henry  Deacy  Jacob  Erlich 

SPEAKERS    AT    MONUMENT   DEDICATION 

Chappaqua,  February  3,  1914 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I35 

to  find,  in  all  W'yomino-,  two  respectable  men  who  will  assert  over 
their  own  signatures  that  woman  suffrage  has  had  any  bad  eiTect 
whatever.     So  far  there  has  not  been  a  single  response. 

To  me.  many  of  whose  ancestors  fought  in  the  Colonial  Wars, 
in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  in  the  War  of  1812,  whose  great- 
great  grandmother,  a  friend  of  Jenny  McCrea,  was  one  of  the  young 
girls  who  strewed  flowers  in  the  path  of  General  Washington  on  his 
way  to  take  command  of  the  Continental  army,  with  all  the  tradi- 
tions that  this  involves,  it  is  humiliating  to  be  obliged  to  ask  men 
of  an  alien  race,  as  I  liave  done  in  this  town,  if  they  will  consent 
to  give  nie  the  \ote  in  191 5.  And  yet  we  women  have  to  ask  them 
in  order  to  obtain  it.  Our  men  have  thoughtlessly  placed  us  in  that 
position. 

After  the  Civil  War  Mr  Greeley  asserted  that  women  were  more 
fit  to  cope  with  civic  problems  than  men  who  had  been  away  from 
home  for  several  years,  fighting.  He  has  been  accused  of  leaving  the 
suffragists  in  the  lurch  wdien  it  came  to  the  final  test.  But,  whether 
he  did  or  not,  as  he  believed  in  woman  suffrage,  I  hope  that  his 
statue  here  will  be  a  constant  reminder  to  the  men  of  Chappaqua 
that  they  themselves  will  be  obliged  to  help  decide  our  fate  —  the 
fate  of  New  York  —  in  1915. 

President  Bristol:  After  hearing  Miss  Bedell,  the  conclusion 
seems  irresistible  that  the  girls  in  our  school  today,  as  w^ell  as  the 
boys,  will  hold  the  suftVage  destiny  of  our  country  in  their  hands 
in  but  a  few  years. 

We  should,  therefore,  call  upon  one  of  our  school  children  to 
speak  of  the  usefulness  this  monument  will  have  in  molding  their 
future. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  this  is  Master  Perry  Brevoort  Turner. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT    ON    BEHALF    OF    THE    SCHOOL 
CHILDREN    OF   CHAPPAQUA 

PERRY    BREN'OORT   TURNER    (eIGHT   YEARS    OLD) 

On  behalf  of  the  school  children  of  Chappaqua,  and  in  their 
name,  I  have  been  delegated  to  express  our  thanks  to  the  Chappaqua 
Historical  Society  for  this  beautiful  statue  of  Horace  Greeley. 

It  will  always  be  an  inspiration  to  us ;  and,  when  we  look  upon  it, 
we  shall  be  reminded  how  a  poor,  struggling  boy  was  not  only  able 
to  educate  himself,  under  the  most  trying  difficulties,  but  became  one 
of  the  foremost  men  of  his  time. 


136  THK    UNIVEKSITN'    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

President  Bristol  :  One  of  the  great  workers  in  the  cause  of  the 
creation  of  a  i^mpcr  memorial  to  il'irace  Greeley  was  Mr  Jacob 
I'>licli.  the  treasurer  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society,  and  of 
it?  Horace  Greeley  memorial  conmiittee. 

Without  Mr  Erlich's  efforts,  we  doubt  that  the  statue  would  now 
have  graced  this  site.  Our  unveiling  committee  greatly  regret  that 
Mr  Erlich  is  confined  to  his  home  by  illness.  We  all  know  how 
much  he  regrets  his  utter  inability  to  be  with  us. 

His  daughter.  Miss  Ruth  Erlich,  has  kindly  consented  to  read 
what  her  father  would  have  said  to  us,  and  we  now  take  great 
pleasure  in  presenting  Miss  Erlich. 

ADDRESS  OF  JACOB  ERLICH 
(Read  by  Ruth  Erlich) 

Greeley's  life  is  one  about  which  every  American  should  know 
something.  The  centennial  of  his  birth  was  celebrated  in  many 
parts  of  the  country,  and  particularly  in  this  place  where  he  had 
built  his  homestead  and  lived  to  the  end  of  his  days. 

From  the  devotion  and  tribute  that  had  their  chief  stimulus  in 
the  painstaking  efforts  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society  this 
statue  has  grown. 

In  my  connection  as  treasurer  of  the  Greeley  memorial  committee. 
I  had  abundant  occasion  to  realize  how  firmly  rooted  were  the  re- 
spect and  aft'ection  of  all  people  who  knew  him  personally  or  felt 
tlie  direct  influence  of  his  fruitful  public  labors.  It  may  not  be 
amiss  at  this  point  to  say  a  few  words  of  thanks  to  the  members 
of  the  society  and  people  from  all  parts  of  the  Union  whose  con- 
tributions made  up  the  fund  for  this  statue.  But.  while  these  finan- 
cial aids  were  useful  and  necessary,  we  can  not  overestimate  the 
genius  of  the  sculptor  who  ])resents  to  posterity  a  lifelike  image  of 
the  man  whom  we  all  delight  to  honor. 

During  the  celebration  of  Greeley's  centennial,  three  years  ago, 
I  had  occasion  to  make  reference  to  the  most  important  events  of 
Greeley's  career.  It  will  therefore  be  unnecessary  to  retravel  the 
same  ground.  Let  me.  however,  call  attention  to  some  things  inter- 
esting to  review. 

Greeley  was  consulted  by  Cyrus  W.  Field  concerning  the  Atlantic 
cable.  As  president  of  the  American  Institute  he  did  much  for 
agriculture.  He  was  especially  interested  in  the  sewing  machine, 
and  was  the  first  to  mention  moving  platforms.  Through  the  tre- 
mendous influence  wielded  by  his  pen,  in  the  New  York  Tribune, 


JACOB    ERLICH 

To  whom  is  due  much  of  the  credit  for  the  Greeley  centenary 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  13/ 

of  which  he  was  the  founder,  he  naturally  and  logically  became  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Republican  party.  His  opposition  to  Seward, 
by  the  whirligig  of  politics,  resulted  in  the  nomination  of  Lincoln 
by  the  newly  formed  Republican  party,  and  thus  the  position  he 
took  made  a  most  profound  chapter  in  the  annals  of  our  country. 

He  not  only  brought  about  the  nomination  and  election  of  Lincoln 
but  hastened  the  issue  of  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation  by 
his  passionate  appeal  in  the  Tribune,  entitled  "  The  Prayer  of 
Twenty  jMillions." 

The  labors  of  the  Greeley  memorial  committee  are  approaching 
their  close  only  in  so  far  as  the  work  connected  with  the  monument 
is  concerned. 

The  study  of  so  grand  and  noble  a  life  has  elevated  our  civic 
ideals  and  broadened  our  sense  of  the  humanities.  This  monument 
means  the  opening  up  of  new  ways  to  honor  the  character  that  it 
represents  and  thus  will  be  fulrtlling  the  high  mission  for  which  it 
is  intended. 

President  Bristol:  In  the  darkest  hour  of  money-raising  toward 
completing  the  greatest  work  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society, 
.Mr  Albert  Edward  Henschel  proposed  the  introduction  of  a  bill 
in  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  appropriating  $to,ooo 
to  enable  our  society  to  complete  this  memorial  undertaking.  The 
bill  unanimously  passed  both  houses,  but  was  vetoed  by  Governor 
Dix. 

Prompt  efforts  for  financial  aid  were  made  in  other  directions, 
but  were  productive  of  slow  results.  This  arose  from  the  natural 
order  of  things,  chief  of  which  is  the  lack  of  reverence  for  art  works 
of  this  character  in  this  great  country  of  ours.  Some  hundreds  of 
dollars  are  still  needed,  to  complete  the  tablet  and  other  details. 
We  shall,  no  doubt,  raise  this  money. 

We  are  also  indebted  to  Mr  Henschel  for  securing  the  passage 
and  approval  by  Governor  Sulzer,  of  the  $1500  appropriation  bill 
for  making  a  permanent  record  of  this  day's  proceedings. 

You  should  all  know  Mr  Henschel,  and  I  now  take  great  pleasure 
in  introducing  him  to  you. 

ADDRESS  OF  ALBERT  E.  HENSCHEL 

There  is  probably  no  man,  other  than  Franklin,  whose  activities 
have  more  deeply  penetrated  the  well-springs  of  American  life 
than   Horace  Greeley.     His  name   is  brought  before  us  whenever 


13^5  illK    UNIVEKSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

we  dig  at  the  bottom  of  the  great  things  that  make  up  American 
progress  and  civihzation  today.  This  has  made  Greeley's  name  a 
household  word. 

He  was  first  and  always  an  American.  The  next  great  charac- 
teristic 1  wish  to  bring  out  is  his  superl)  moral  courage.  To  instance 
one  illustration  of  many,  let  me  carry  you  back  to  the  year  1846, 
when  prejudice  and  narrow-mindedness  were  more  rife  than  today. 
He  had  the  sublime  fearlessness  to  defend  the  memory  of  the  much 
calumniated  Thomas  Paine,  in  the  discussion  with  Henry  J.  Ray- 
mond, on  the  stibject  of  "  association."  These  are  Greeley's  words: 
"As  to  poor  Tom  Paine,  ...  I  am  unable  to  account  for  the  bit- 
terness of  vituperation  with  which  you  assail  him.  That  to  him, 
more  than  to  any  other  man,  this  country  is  indebted  for  the  impulse 
to  its  independence  from  Great  Britain  —  that  its  separation  from  the 
Mother  Country  was  more  ably  and  cogently  advocated  and  justified 
by  him  than  l)y  any  other  writer  —  tliat  his  \oice  cheered  the  dis- 
comfited defenders  of  our  liberties,  as  they  tracked  with  blood  the 
frozen  soil  of  New  Jersey  on  their  retreat  before  the  overwhelming 
numbers  of  the  enemy  in  the  winter  of  1776.  and  reanimated  the 
people  to  make  the  eft'orts  and  sacrifices  necessary  to  secure  our 
f reedom  —  I  confess,  seem  to  me  to  entitle  him  to  some  measure 
C)f  kindly  regard  at  the  hands  of  every  American  citizen." 

It  was  the  same  kind  of  moral  courage  that  made  him  defy  the 
public  passion  of  the  hour  in  signing  the  bail  bond  of  Jefferson 
Davis,  after  having  defied  the  powerful  hosts  of  slavery  in  the 
North  as  well  as  in  the  South  for  years  until  his  life  battle  was 
crowned  in  the  triumph  of  freedom  over  slavery. 

He  always  had  a  word  of  hope  and  cheer  for  the  downtrodden, 
and  worked  out  practical  means  for  the  extension  of  social  justice. 
He  never  failed  to  take  part  in  any  movement  for  the  general  good. 
At  the  great  mass  meeting  of  the  New  York  Early-closing  Asso- 
ciation in  1864,  he  said:  "It  is  not  the  efifort  of  one  class  to 
injure  or  pull  down  another,  but  an  efifort  to  benefit  both  classes 
by  sim])ly  limiting  the  hours  of  labor." 

When  Greeley  died,  the  people  realized  that  they  had  lost  a  true 
friend.  Mow  he  felt  with  and  for  the  people,  is  well  shown  in 
one  of  his  letters,  written  in  1854:  "I  am  ready  to  follow  any 
lead  that  promises  to  hasten  the  day  of  northern  emancipation.  .  .  . 
But,  remember  that  editors  can  only  follow  where  the  people's 
heart  is  already  prepared  to  go  with  them.  They  can  direct  and 
ar.imate  a  healthy  jniblic  indignation,  !)Ut  not  ■  create  a  soul  beneath 
the  ribs  of  death.'  " 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  139 

In  a  speech  delivered  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  about  two  months 
before  he  died,  he  spoke  of  his  humble  life  as  a  farmer,  a  mechanic, 
a  printer  and  told  how  he  devoted  the  rest  of  his  life  to  the  vocation 
of  printer  and  editor.  He  spoke  of  his  sympathies  "  with  the 
immense  majority  of  mankind  who  in  all  ages  are  required  to 
subsist  by  their  own  manual  industry."  He  then  proceeds :  "  I 
was,  in  the  days  of  slavery,  an  enemy  of  slavery,  because  I  thought 
slavery  inconsistent  with  the  rights,  dignity  and  highest  well-being 
of  labor.  ...  I  was  anxious  next  that  our  country's  unity 
might  be  preserved,  without  bloodshed  if  that  were  possible  —  by 
means  of  bloodshed,  if  that  dire  necessity  should  be  fastened  upon 
us.  For,  friends  and  neighbors,  bloodshed  is  always  a  sad  neces- 
sity— -always  a  woeful  necessity — -and  he  who  loves  his  fellow 
man  must  desire  to  make  it  as  short  as  possible,  so  soon  as  peace 
can  be  restored,  to  efface  as  speedily  as  may  be  every  trace  not 
merely  of  blood  on  the  earth,  but  of  vengeful  feelings  from  the 
hearts  of  his  fellows.  Such  has  been  the  impulse  of  the  course  1 
have  pursued  throughout  the  last  few  eventful  years.  My  lift 
has  been  an  open  book ;  all  could  read  it.  My  thoughts  have  beeik 
given  to  the  public  warm  and  fresh." 

Thus  we  have  from  his  own  lips  a  portraiture  of  his  lift 
purposes. 

The  sincerity  of  these  jnirposes,  tlie  untiring,  sleepless  zeal  to 
bring  to  reality  his  beautiful  ideals  of  human  brotherhood  and 
freedom,  liis  absolute  fearlessness  in  the  prosecution  of  what  he 
believed  to  be  the  right,  his  uncompromising  warfare  upon  the 
frauds  and  hypocrisies  of  the  age.  his  labors  for  the  advancement 
and  education  of  the  masses,  his  instinctive  sympathy  for  every 
member  of  the  human  race,  give  us  a  picture  of  a  high  and  mighty 
soul,  fit  to  take  rank  with  the  best  and  noblest  lives  that  have 
adorned  the  earth.  Justly  may  we  apply  to  him  the  words  he  used 
in  speaking  of  another,  that  he  was  "  faithful  in  heart  and  purposes 
to  Justice,  to  Freedom,  and  the  inalienable  Rights  of  Man." 

President  Bristol  :  We  all  regret  the  unavoidable  absence  by 
illness,  of  Mr  William  Ordway  Partridge,  through  whose  genius 
this  remarkable  likeness  of  Horace  Greeley  is  preserved  to  us  in 
the  standard  bronze  of  the  country. 

Mr  Partridge  has  requested  me  to  present  his  respects  and  regards 
to  you,  and  to  state  how  deeply  he  regrets  not  being  present  on  this 
occasion. 

We  all  feel  that  Mr  Partridge  would  have  experienced  a  supreme 


140  THE    UNIVKKSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

l)lc;isurc  at  the  nioiiiciU  of  tlu  unveilinti^  of  one  of  his  most  success- 
ful works.  We  also  know  that  he  has  acci)ni[)lishecl  the  (lillicult 
task  given  to  him,  with  artistic  fidelity. 

it  is  not  generally  known  that  a  recent  legislative  enactment 
empowers  the  expenditure  of  $1500  by  the  State  of  New  York, 
for  recording  the  un\ciling  exercises  of  today  in  a  proper  and  lasting 
form,  for  otticial  distriljulion. 

The  State  Historian,  lion.  James  A.  Holden,  not  being  able  to 
be  with  us  on  this  occasion,  is  well  represented  by  Dr  Richard  K. 
Day,  chief  clerk  of  that  office.  ( )ur  committee  has  invited  Doctor 
Day  to  address  you,  and  it  ncjw  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  intro- 
duce him. 

HORACE  GREELEY,   THE  JOURNALIST 

RICII.ARI)     E.     DAY,    DIVISION     OF     HISTORY,    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE 
STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

The  State  work  with  which  1  am  associated  has  been  devoted 
largely  to  the  deeds  of  soldiers.  The  occasion  which  brings  us 
together  here  concerns  the  fame  of  one  whose  victories  were  emi- 
nently peaceful.  Statesmen  and  lawmakers,  after  military  heroes, 
have  hlled  the  amplest  i)lace  and  won  the  readiest  honors;  but 
Horace  (ireeley's  distincti\e  achievement  did  not  place  him  with 
these.  The  entire  period  of  his  office-holding  was  brief.  Had  he 
been  elected  to  the  presidency  in  1872.  his  administration  would 
have  been  marked  by  those  high  virtues  of  independence  and 
integrity  which  stamped  his  whole  history ;  but  whether  it  would 
have  been  a  political  success,  in  view  of  the  advanced  character 
of  the  policies  to  which  he  stood  committed  —  whether  he  did  not 
stand  too  far  in  advance  of  the  nation  to  be  able  to  lead  it  by  his 
own  enthusiasm,  is  a  speculatixe  ([uestion,  which  1  need  not  try  to 
answer.  It  is  (juite  as  certain  that  Mr  (ireeley  was  not  a  politician 
according  to  the  uses  of  the  term  which  prevail  at  the  present  time. 
1  low  little  he  enjoyed  political  domination  or  coojieration,  he  showed 
when  he  announced  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Seward,  Weed 
and  Greeley  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  junior  member.  No,  with 
highest  honor  to  ])oliticians  of  the  better  sort,  I  can  not  think  that 
Greeley  was  great  as  a  politician.  So,  if  we  discard  from  con- 
sideration some  other  features  of  his  manifold  activity,  we  ha\e 
the  newspaper  man  —  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  that  our  country 
has  produced. 

In  the  short  time  at  my  disposal  1  will  not  undertake  to  compare 


WILLIAM   ORDWAY   PARTRIDGE 

Sculptor  of  the  Greeley  memorial  statue  at  Chappaqua 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I4I 

the  founder  of  the  Tribune  with  other  great  journaHsts  who  are 
numbered  among  his  predecessors,  contemporaries  or  successors ; 
but  no  other  has  filled  so  completely  the  era  in  wdiich  he  lived, 
molded  its  opinion  and  action  so  potently,  stirred  its  emotions  so 
deeply,  and  represented  national  aspirations  so  triumphantly.  It 
was,  as  we  all  know,  an  era  of  personal  journalism.  The  day  of 
the  dueling  editor  had  about  passed ;  the  day  of  the  horsewhipping 
editor  had  come.  I  have  never  read  or  heard  that  Mr  Greeley  ever 
whipped  anyone.  But  he  played  his  part  in  the  personal  discus- 
sions which  distinguished  the  passionate  politics  of  his  time,  and 
frequently  defined  his  position  toward  an  opponent  with  striking 
vehemence  and  that  perspicuity  of  phrase  in  which  he  never  had  a 
master.  It  would  be  a  delight  to  one  whose  boyhood  was  nourished 
on  Greeley's  Tribune  to  dilate  on  the  excellences  of  that  manly 
style,  so  trenchant,  so  compact,  so  free  from  artificial  ornament, 
so  decisive  in  its  deadly  swing.  We  have  a  school  of  journaHsm 
in  the  city  where  Horace  Greeley  did  his  work;  we  are  to  have, 
many  in  America.  I  hope.  And  in  these  schools,  I  trust,  the  most 
famous  of  his  editorials  will  often  be  exhibited  to  budding  journal- 
ists, not  only  as  illustrations  of  a  remarkable  era  in  journalism  and 
politics,  but  as  models  of  newspaper  English. 

Yet  few  writings  are  kept  alive  very  long  by  qualities  of  style 
alone ;  and  that  which  is  vital  in  Greeley's  productions  is  the  quality 
of  character.  Few  editors,  however  versatile,  can  long  sustain  the 
drain  of  a  daily  fresh  appeal  to  their  readers  unless  they  carry  to 
their  desks  at  night  or  morning  an  earnestness  that  pro])els  them 
over  discouragement  and  weariness,  and  an  enthusiasm  which  makes 
the  old  world  new  each  day.  By  honesty  of  heart  and  clearness  of 
mind  he  sometimes  outstripped  the  thought  of  the  public  which  he 
had  created,  and  outran  the  slow-moving  sentiment  of  the  nation. 
This  he  did  in  his  efforts  to  hasten  the  reconciliation  of  North  and 
South.  When  he  signed  the  bail  bond  of  Jefferson  Davis  —  an  act 
as  enlightened  and  far-seeing  as  it  was  courageous  —  his  conduct 
corresponded  with  the  principles  which  shaped  his  course  as  a 
public  guide  and  teacher.  Among  the  men  of  his  generation  were 
some  who  could  interpret  popular  sentiment,  and  calculate  its  motion 
better  than  he.  Abraham  Lincoln  possessed  that  intuitive  gift. 
Horace  Greeley's  genius  was  that  of  the  political  seer,  who  antici- 
pates the  sentiment  of  tomorrow.  This  made  him  the  prophet  of 
national  reconciliation ;  and  this  I  am  inclined  to  regard  as  his 
crowning  glory.  As  the  memories  of  the  Civil  War  arc  translated 
into  the  common  traditions  of  the  American  people,  and  national 


142  IIIE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

pride  learns  to  eiulirace  all  that  heloni^js  to  American  valor  and 
steadfastness,  the  fame  of  llie  northern  abolition  editor  who  broke 
with  a  radical  school  of  political  thou.i^ht,  and  l)ecame  the  lierald  of 
a  real  i)eace,  will  be  exalted  nmre  and  more. 

At  the  time  of  (jreeley's  death,  he  was  described  as  our  second 
I'ranklin  ;  and  the  likeness  has  impressed  more  than  one  mind.  It 
was  sufii'gested  by  romantic  features  of  the  early  careers  of  the  two 
eminent  printers,  and  enforced  by  a  certain  kinship  of  intellectual 
cast.  Their  interest  in  the  practical  sifle  of  life,  their  attachment  to 
a  philosophy  wdiich  emphasizes  the  humbler  virtues,  and  perhaps 
their  command  of  the  resources  of  idiomatic  expression  contribute 
to  the  resemblance.  Uut  we  nnist  be  careful  lest  we  ])ress  this 
likeness  too  far.  The  cool,  sua\e  art  of  the  .\merican  who  repre- 
sented the  ])ro\ince  of  I 'ennsyhania  in  l*jiii;land,  and  the  United 
States  at  the  court  of  I'^rance,  was  forei<:^n  to  Greeley's  talent  am,! 
temper.  For  diplomacy  he  seemed  little  fitted.  It  sometimes  ap- 
l)eared  to  be  his  business  to  create  difficulties  rather  than  to  smooth 
them  away.  'Jdiis  is  the  destiny  of  men  wdiose  perception  of  the 
moral  character  of  issues  is  keen  and  prompt. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true,  as  is  asserted,  that  journalism  of  the 
Greeley  type  is  passing,  and  wdth  it  the  rule  of  overmastering 
personality.  The  new  journalism  means  the  organized  cooperation 
of  many  trainer!  workers,  directed  not  to  the  expression  of  one 
person's  thought,  but  to  the  interpretation  of  all  the  thoughts  that 
agitate  society.  Whether  the  labor  of  the  newspaper  man  will  gain 
or  lose  inspiration  by  the  change,  is  a  matter  too  complex  to  examine 
here.  Inspiring  it  has  been  in  the  past ;  and  inspiring  it  w-ill  always 
be  while  the  moral  element  persists  in  the  forces  w^hich  move 
humanity. 

President  Bristol:  To  Mr  William  Henry  Deacy  we  are  under 
many  obligations,  as  the  architect  of  the  beautiful  pedestal  of 
Pompton  pink  granite  upon  which  this  statue  is  placed. 

We  have  heeded  Mr  Deacy's  advice,  and  his  work  manifests  his 
s])lendid  ability.  Mr  Deacy's  absence,  through  illness,  is  regretted, 
but  you  have  his  regards  and  good  wdshes.  The  existence  of  the 
pedestal,  as  designed  by  him,  silently  bespeaks  its  praise. 

The  name  of  Horace  Greeley  has  ever  been  closely  associated 
with  printers,  and  printers  with  type.  It  is  proper,  therefore,  that 
we  hear  from  Mr  Marsden  G.  Scott,  president  of  Typographical 
Union  No.  6.  Mr  Greeley  was  long  a  member  of  this  union,  atid 
its  first  president. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I43 

HORACE  GREELEY  AND   THE  PRINTERS 

MARSDEX   G.    SCOTT,   PRESIDENT   OF  TYPOGRAPHICAL   UNION    NO.   6 

It  is  my  pri\ilege  to  bring  to  these  ceremonies  the  modest  tribute 
of  New  York  Typographical  Union  No.  6.  More  than  threescore 
years  ago  the  man  to  whose  memory  this  beautiful  monument  is 
unveiled  today,  advocated  the  formation  of  a  union  of  the  men 
employed  in  the  printing  offices  of  New  York  City.  Such  a  union 
was  formed  in  1850,  and  during  the  first  year  of  its  existence 
Horace  Greeley  served  as  its  presiding  officer. 

Greeley  had  worked  as  a  journeyman  printer,  setting  type  for 
low  wages  and  working  long  hours.  When  he  rose  to  distinction 
as  a  journalist,  he  did  not  desert  the  men  who  had  been  his  asso- 
ciates in  the  composing  rooms.  Greeley  held  that  the  basis  of  all 
moral  and  social  reform  lay  in  a  practical  recognition  of  the  right 
of  every  human  being  to  demand  of  the  community  an  opportunity 
to  labor  and  to  recei\e  decent  subsistence  as  the  just  reward  of 
such  labor.  As  an  employer  Greeley  paid  the  highest  prices  to  his 
printers  and  as  an  employer  he  urged  the  struggling  printers  to 
unite  to  improve  conditions  in  their  trade. 

"  I  joined  the  union."  said  Horace  Greeley  in  1850,  "  in  the  hope 
that  something  good  would  come  of  it.  I  expect  good  from  it. 
But  I  recommend  no  strike,  no  hasty  attempt  at  coercive  measures. 
I  would  suggest  a  committee  of  the  coolest  heads  among  the  journey- 
men to  confer  with  employers  and  agree  upon  a  scale  of  prices. 
It  is  by  a  union  of  all,  or  at  least  a  majority  among  the  journeymen, 
that  this  object  can  be  achieved.  Let  them  be  as  one  man,  united 
and  determined  to  stay  united,  and  all  fair  and  honorable  concessions 
will  come,  without  strikes  or  vain  parades  or  noisy  vaporings. 
Remember,  in  union  —  and  in  union  alone  —  there  is  strength." 

In  the  columns  of  the  Tribune  in  September  1850,  Mr  Greeley 
said:  "There  ought  obviously  to  be  some  uniform  standard  or 
scale  to  be  appealed  to  in  case  of  difference  as  to  the  proper  com- 
pensation for  any  work  done.  Anarchy,  uncertainty  and  chaos  on 
this  subject  are  all  against  the  fair,  regular,  live-and-let-live  em- 
ployer who  wants  good  work  done  by  good  workmen  and  is  willing 
to  pay  for  it ;  and  benefit  only  the  niggard  who  calculates  to  enrich 
himself  by  grinding  the  face  of  the  poor  and  robliing  labor  of  its 
honest  due." 

Times  change  and  men  change  with  them,  l)ut  upon  the  principles 
which  Horace  Greeley  advocated  more  than  sixty  years  ago  there 
has  been  erected  a  trade  union  which  we  are  confident  would  have 
the  enthusiastic  approval  of  Horace  Greeley  were  he  alive  today. 


144  '"'■•  i'm\'i:ksi'in'  ok  'j'liii:  state  of  new  vork 

Horace  (Jrcclcy  was  one  nf  ouv  fir.-^l  leaders  io  urge  a  system  of 
iiulustrial  peace  in  llie  priiuint,^  industry.  iJe  was  an  earnest  ad- 
\ocate  of  conference,  negotiation,  conciliation  and  arbitration 
between  employers  and  em])l()yees.  'Jdiesc  principles  arc  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  the  men  in  the  forefront  of  trade  unions  today. 
They  are  princii)les  which  ha\e  stood  the  test.  They  have  produced 
satisfactory  results.  Their  worth  has  been  demonstrated,  and  we 
shall  not  cast  them  aside. 

Half  a  hundred  journeymen  printers  elected  Horace  Greeley  to 
the  presidency  of  Typographical  Union  No.  6.  Today  we  have  a 
membership  of  more  than  seven  thousand  and  our  International 
Union  has  a  membershii)  of  more  than  seventy  thousand.  Througli 
our  International  Union  we  have  established  a  home  for  aged  and 
inhrm  members  at  Colorado  Springs,  to  the  sup])ort  of  which  our 
union  contributes  as  its  share  $12,000  amuially. 

We  have  established  an  old  age  ]-)ension  system,  through  which 
more  than  two  hundred  members  of  No.  6  recei\ed  $48,500  in 
pensions  last  year.  We  have  established  a  mortuary  insurance 
fund,  through  which  the  relatives  of  deceased  members  of  No.  6 
received  $40,500  last  year.  The  payments  from  these  two  funds, 
throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  our  International  Union,  amount 
approximately  to  half  a  million  dollars  a  year. 

Our  International  Union  has  established  a  course  of  instruction 
for  apprentices  and  journeymen,  and  we  in  New  York  are  con- 
tributing to  the  support  of  a  school  where  two  hundred  apprentices 
are  receiving  instruction  in  ])rinting. 

Aside  from  our  beneficial  features,  we  are  interested  in  a  cam- 
paign for  more  sanitary  conditions  in  workshops,  that  the  ravages 
of  the  white  ])lague  may  lie  further  checked  and  the  health  of  our 
members  be  more  fully  protected. 

We  have  established  a  national  arbitration  system  for  the  adjust- 
ment of  disputes  and  the  readjustinent  of  wage  scales  with  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  and  we  hope  in  the 
near  future  to  establish  a  similar  system  in  the  book  and  jol) 
printing  industry.  When  this  is  done  we  shall  feel  that  we  have 
completed  a  system  for  negotiating  with  employers  based  on  the 
simple  recommendations  made  by  Horace  Greeley  in  1850. 

The  name  of  Horace  Greelev  has  its  place  in  our  country's 
history  as  the  nation's  greatest  editor.  He  was  an  intellectual  giant, 
who  molded  public  opinion.  He  was  fearless  in  his  advocacy  of 
the  rights  of  labor.  He  was  unswerving  in  his  loyalty  to  the  govern- 
ment under  which  wc  live. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I45 

We  of  the  Tyj)ographical  Union  liave  a  deep  affection  for  the 
memory  of  this  great  man.  We  feel  that  in  a  measure  he  belonged 
to  us.  He  was  our  first  great  leader.  His  wise  counsel  led  to  the 
organization  of  our  union  and,  through  following  his  wise  counsel 
given  (^4  years  ago,  we  hope  to  establish  industrial  peace  in  the 
printing  establishments  of  New  York  City  atid  throughout  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  of  North 
America. 

President  Bristol  :  Before  the  unveiling  events  of  this  day  shall 
have  wholly  passed  into  the  record,  it  seems  best  to  give  a  brief 
summary  of  the  work  of  the  Horace  Greeley  memorial  committee, 
acting  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society. 

First,  there  was  the  selection  of  the  monument  site.  Several 
Chappaqua  localities  were  ccnsidererl,  with  the  result  that  ground 
was  broken  on  this  historic  spot,  memorable  with  events  of  the 
Revolution,  three  years  ago  today  —  the  centenary  of  the  birth  of 
Horace  Greeley. 

The  site  of  the  stattie  was  finally  left  to  the  decision  of  !Mrs 
F.  M.  Clendenin,  the  daughter  of  the  great  editor. 

In  August  of  the  following  year,  the  statue  was  delivered  in 
Chappaqua.  By  this  time  all  funds  were  entirely  exhausted.  Fur- 
ther work  ceased  for  some  months,  when  additional  funds  were 
obtained. 

The  plans  for  the  pedestal  were  then  prepared.  The  subcom- 
mittee having  this  work  in  charge  visited  several  of  the  great  statues 
and  monuments,  and  decided  that  no  other  stone  than  the  famous 
]*ompton  pink  granite  would  wholly  comport  with  all  of  the  statue's 
requirements.  This  was  especially  true  as  to  the  greatly  needed 
enduring  qualities. 

A  contract  was  finally  entered  into  with  a  granite  company,  and 
a  partial  payment  made.  This  company  failed,  with  an  uncompleted 
pedestal  upon  its  hands.  A  long  delav  ensued,  pending  the  selection 
of  a  second  contracting  company.  With  the  pedestal  under  way, 
the  entire  working  plant  of  this  company  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Another  long  period  of  discouraging  work  lay  before  the  memorial 
committee,  but  this  we  must  say  was  well  performed,  with  the 
significant  result  that  the  contracting  company  finally  completed 
the  beautiful  pedestal  which  we  see  before  us. 

Following  this,  the  entire  plant  of  the  contracting  company  was 
shut  down,  w'ith  contracts  covering  thousands  of  cubic  yards  of 
stone  imfilled,  owing,  we  understand,  to  labor  troubles.    The  pedestal 


146  THE    UNIVEHSITV    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

—  the  only  work  c\cr  coniplclcd  l»y  this  C()ni|)any  —  was  placed  in' 
liosition  in  Januar\'  of  this  year,  the  Chappacjua  Historical  Society 
taking  charj^a-  of  it  on  the  17th  of  last  month,  and  we  are  unveilini^ 
it   today. 

in  the  interim  between  the  delix'ery  of  the  statue  and  the  placinj^ 
of  it  upon  its  pedestal,  it  was  carefully  guarded,  in  a  substantial  and 
l)roper  covering,  in  the  open  air,  thus  avoiding  all  risk  from  fire 
and  the  cost  of  insurance. 

In  concluding  the  ceremonies  of  today,  the  Chappaqua  Historical 
Society  desires  to  thank  this  large  and  attentive  audience  for  their 
cheering  presence,  and  to  extend  hearty  wishes  for  peace,  happiness 
and  prosperity  to  all. 

The  following  letter  was  receixcd  by  the  ])resident  of  the  Chap- 
pacjua  Historical  Society  a  few  days,  after  the  ceremonies. 

The  Rectory 

Westchester 

New  York  City 

MY  DEAR    MR   BRISTOL: 

Now  that  the  first  storm  is  beating  upon  that  splendid  statue  of 
my  father,  I  want  to  tell  you  how  happy  you  have  made  his 
daughter.  I  just  love  that  statue,  and  where  it  stands  is  so  well 
chosen.  Thank  you  and  each  one  of  that  faithful  committee,  and 
from  that  cloud  of  the  great  departed  may  he  thank  you  by  being 
an  inspiration  of  this  generation,  so  that  our  children  may  be  simple 
and  true  and  brave  and  honest  Americans. 

h^dthfully  and  gratefully  yours. 

Gabriri.le  Greeley  Clendenin 
Feb.  6th,  TQT4 


REV.    AND   MRS  FRANK   M.    CLENDSNIN    (GABRIELLE   GREELEY) 


ORIGINAL  MANUSCRIPTS   OF 
HORACE  GREELEY 


ORIGINAL   MANUSCRIPTS   OF   HORACE 
GREELEY 

The  New  York  State  Library  has  come  into  tlie  possession  of 
several  letters  of  Horace  Greeley,  which  the  editor  of  this  work 
has  had  reproduced  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  peculiar  hand- 
writing of  Mr  Greeley,  which  for  years  has  stood  as  the  example 
par  excellence  of  illegibility  and  peculiarity.  All  sorts  of  anecdotes 
and  jests  have  been  built  around  his  handwriting.  With  a  little 
care,  however,  his  manuscripts  can  be  read,  as.  while  the  letters 
are  wonderful  in  construction,  there  is  a  uniformity  about  them 
which  enables  one,  even  though  not  an  expert,  to  decipher  them. 

The  second  reason  for  inserting  them  in  this  work  is  to  show 
the  wide  range  of  interests  in  which  Mr  Greeley  was  involved. 
The  letters  to  William  li.  Robinson  came  at  a  time  in  our  history 
when  certain  great  matters  were  in  the  making,  and  Greeley's  in- 
structions to  him  to  look  after  legislation  at  Washington  convey  a 
certain  illuminating  characterization,  which  shows  conditions  as 
they  were  at  that  time.  His  letter  to  the  young  lady  regarding  the 
borrowing  of  money  is  characteristic,  especially  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  Horace  Greeley  was  invariably  an  easy  victim  for  every  derelict 
printer  and  professional  panhandler  in  the  country.  His  offer  to 
loan  money  to  a  friend  without  the  latter's  asking  for  it.  is  decidedly 
indicative  of  his  mental  attitude  tt)waril  money. 

The  third  reason  for  publishing  these  letters  is  on  account  of 
their  historical  value  and  for  their  preservation  in  a  medium  where 
they  may  be  accessible  to  any  one  interested  in  Horace  Greeley  and 
his  idiosyncrasies.  The  letters  have  been  given  in  their  chrono- 
logical order,  with  such  annotations  as  will  make  the  meaning  clear 
to  the  understanding  of  the  reader. 

New  York,  March  _'?,  184^^ 
GextlI':men 

Yours  of  the  21st  has  reached  me  barely  in  season  to  be  answered 
before  your  Festival  — ■  not  in  season  to  allow  me  to  unite  with  you 
in  its  celebration,  even  though  my  engagements  did  not   forbid  it. 

I  profoundly  regret  my  inability  to  comply  with  your  kind  invita- 
tion. Knowing  well  many  who  will  be  with  you  on  this  occasion, 
and  cherishing  a  grateful  regard  for  the  Sons  of  Old  Ireland  who 
reside  in  and  near  Albany,  and  especially  for  their  patient  and 
generous  efforts  to  enlighten  the  American  People  as  to  the  justice 
and  necessity  of  Repeal,  I  should  have  derived  great  pleasure  from 
an  evening's  Social  intercourse  with  them.     Allow  me  to  cherish 

149 


150  'I1I1-:   LM\  i-;ksii  ^•  oi'  the  state  of  new  york 

the  hope  that  an  opportunity  may  yet  be  mine,  and  meantime  to 
propose  to  you  the  following  sentiment: 

llic  Right  of  the  Irish  People  and  of  every  People,  to  control 
their  07Cii  Domestic  Legishition  —  \w  dchance  of  Power,  and  I'rid-.', 
and  Bayonets,  and  Falsehood,  it  shall  yet  be  nobly  triumphant. 

Yours,  most  truly 

IIoR.xcE  Greeeey 

.l/('.s\v;-.s-.   irHliam   Cooiiey  Committee  of  hrritation 

Nezv  York,  March  21,  1846 
Friend  Robinson  :  ^ 

I  think  your  letters  are  better  since  you  were  expelled  from  the 
House  —  if  you  should  ever  contrive  to  get  expelled  from  the 
Senate  also,  I  am  confident  they  will  be  No.  i.  You  write  fuller, 
freer  and  more  to  the  puri)ose.  Nothing  like  stirring  a  man  u;) 
now  and  then. 

Your  invitation  to  the  Supper  on  St  Patrick's  Day  came  too  late, 
owing  to  a  failure  of  the  Alail.  I  met  Robert  Tyler  at  the  Young 
Friends  of  Ireland's  Dinner.    Rev.  Mr  Burke  made  the  best  speech. 

Try  to  send  me  bills  introduced  or  reported  when  you  can.  They 
are  always  useftil.  Corwin  -  has  ])romised  to  present  and  move  the 
printing  of  the  Land  Reformer's  Memorial.  He  says  he  will  do  so 
as  soon  as  the  (  )regon  '•  (piestion  is  decide.!.  ])Ut  he  mav  on  Monday. 
Whenever  he  does,  be  sure  to  report  him  fully. 

We  ])aid  the  $25  note  when  presented.  I  believe  there  is  not 
much  due  you  now,  but  you  can  draw  a  little  ahead  if  you  need  it. 
We  have  sj^ent  all  our  change  on  exjDresses,  but  ne\er  mind.  We 
mean  to  make  more  some  time. 

Yours,   truly, 

FToRACE  Greeley 


'  William  Erigena  Ivolnnson  was  l>orn  in  Ireland  in  181J,  and  died  in 
P.rookl_\n,  N.  Y.,  in  i8<)2.  He  emigrated  to  .\merica  in  1836,  and  early  engaged 
in  newspaper  writing,  becoming  contribntor  to  the  Tribune  and  also  its  cor- 
respondent. He  was  at  one  time  editor  of  the  Irish  World,  and  was  at  all 
times  influentially  active  in  everything  that  related  to  the  welfare  of  his  native 
country.     He  was  elected  to  Congress  for  several  terms. 

-  Thomas  Corwin,  of  Ohio,  the  celebrated  orator  and  statesman,  was  a 
Ignited   States  Senator   from   1845  to   1850. 

^  The  dispute  between  the  United  States  and  (ireat  Britain  over  the  Oregon 
territory  was  terminated  by  treaty  June  15.  1846,  when  the  boundary  of  the 
United  States  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains  was  established  at  the  4Qth  degree 
of  north  latitude  to  the  channel  between  Vancouver  and  the  mainland,  running 
thence  down  this  channel,  through  the  strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca  to  the  sea. 


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LETTER   TO    ROBINSON 

Regarding  the  Young  Friends  of  Ireland  banquet.     Has  paid  a  $25  note. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I5I 

New  York,  Dec.  ij,  1846 
Friend  Robinson  : 

Send  me  every  bill  introduced  into  Congress  that  you  can  con- 
veniently get,  especially  every  one  that  relates  to  the  Public  Lands. 
Address  them  to  me  personally. 

When  you  have  been  three  weeks  writing  for  us,  draw  for  your 
pay,  send  me  the  draft,  and  I  will  remit  you  the  balance.  I  try 
hard  to  get  something  ahead,  but  can't  get  out  of  debt  to  save  me. 
I  have  been  expecting  to  do  it  by  selling  to  March,  and  that,  it  is 
possible,  may  not  take  place.  I  won't  give  my  concern  away,  for 
it  is  worth  the  time  I  put  on  it  —  valuing  every  thing  we  have  at 
$60,000.  Our  materials  cost  $15,000;  our  Lease  is  readily  worth 
$5,000;  our  Books  and  Stereotype  plates  have  cost  us  many  thou- 
sands, and  our  paper  has  been  built  up  by  hard  work  and  is 
profitable.  It  has  carried  me  through  a  good  many  bad  spots,  and 
I  can't  give  it  away  now. 

Yours, 

Horace  Greeley 


New  York,  Jan.  6,  1868 
My  Friend: 

You  ask  me  if  it  would  be  right  for  one  to  borrow  money  in  order 
to  establish  in  trade.  I  answer  that  I  consider  it  highly  unadvisable. 
Many  have  done  so  with  success ;  twice  as  many,  1  think,  have  failed 
to  repay,  and  have  thenceforward  dragged  a  heavy  chain  to  their 
graves. 

I  can  not  realize  that  it  is  your  duty  to  support  your  parents  and 
educate  your  sister.  I  think  the  latter  might  earn  the  cost  of  her 
own  education. 

I  would  not  advise  you  to  borrow  the  money  you  speak  of  even, 
were  it  pressed  upon  you.  Life  is  too  full  of  hazards.  Life,  even, 
is  precarious ;  health  still  more  so.  I  think  one  should  try  to  so 
order  his  affairs  as  to  be  always  at  liberty  to  die.  Would  you  be 
resigned  to  die  having  borrowed  $1,000  and  spent  it  on  your  own 
education  ? 

I  will  not  urge  the  possibility  that  you  might  wish  to  marry  one 
as  poor  as  yourself,  yet   feel  that  you  could  not  do  so  without 


•5-^ 


THE    UNIX  KkSlTV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 


injustice  to  vour  creditor.     In  tliis  case,  you  would  refuse  to  marry; 
lail  (Icalli  will  not  be  refused,  nor  sickness,  even. 
1  conclude  that  you  ouj,dit  not  to  run  into  debt. 

Yours, 
HoR.\CK  Gri:i:i.i:y 
Miss  Helen  R.  Marshall, 
Kcnnett  Sq. 
Penna. 


From  "  Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life  " 

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ANOTHER   ROBINSON   LETTER 

Wants  information  about  legislation 


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STUDIES  AND  REMINISCENCES 


STUDIES  AND  REMINISCENCES 


HORACE  GREELEY  AS  A  COLONIST 

Mr  Ralph  Meeker  contributes  the  following  account  of  Horace 
Greeley's  connection  with  the  founding  of  the  community  which 
bears  his  name. 

Three  things  in  Horace  Greeley's  career  will  go  down  in  history 
as  permanent  contributions  to  his  noble  fame:  (i)  founding  the 
Tribune;  (2)  bailing  Jefferson  Davis;  (3)  association  with  suc- 
cessful cooperative  colonization.  They  are  a  complete  answer  to 
unfriendly  critics,  who  called  him  an  impractical  dreamer  and  saw 
neither  wisdom  nor  good  sense  in  his  far-sighted  policies.  He  was 
always  a  friend  of  new  movements  for  industrial  improvement  and 
social  reform.  He  had  no  patience  with  vain  pretenders.  Sincere 
almost  to  austerity,  he  was  true  to  himself  and  was  always  ready 
to  welcome  new  ideas  for  uplifting  humanity. 

\\'hen  Charles  Fourier's  cooperative  social  and  industrial  system 
was  introduced  into  this  country,  and  Brook  Farm  and  similar 
Fourier  phalanxes  were  established  in  several  states,  Mr  Greeley 
gave  the  new  gospel  of  industrial  cooperation  much  space  in  the 
Tribune,  as  the  writings  of  the  French  philosopher  had  been  trans- 
lated into  English. 

\\'hile  his  friends.  Cieorge  Ripley,  afterward  literary  editor  of 
the  Tribune,  Charles  A.  Dana,  later  managing  editor,  Nathaniel 
Hawthorne  and  other  geniuses  were  trying  to  make  a  success  of 
transcendental  Brook  Farm,  one  of  the  first  of  American  phalanxes, 
near  Roxlmry.  IVLass.,  Mr  Greeley  joined  the  North  American 
phalanx  at  Red  Bank,  N.  J-,  while  Nathan  C.  Meeker,  of  East 
Cleveland,  ()..  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Trumbull  phalanx. 
It  was  situated  on  the  Mahoning  river,  at  Braceville.  O.,  about 
forty  miles  southeast  of  Cleveland.  This  was  in  1844--45.  Three 
years  later  the  Brook  Farm  organization  dissolved,  and  about  the 
same  time  the  Ohio  phalanx  became  bankrupt,  chiefly  because  cer- 
tain of  the  Ohio  members  absorbed  the  earnings  of  the  industrious 
men,  while  refusing  to  do  the  manual  labor  allotted  them  by  a 
majority  vote  of  the  phalanx. 

The  rules  of  the  organization  rec[uired  members  to  perform  ap- 
pointed tasks.  In  addition  to  a  library,  school,  lecture  room,  com- 
munity hotel  and  house  of  worship,  there  were  saw  and  grist  mills, 
a  machine  shoj)  and  forge  and  other  industrial  estfiblishments,  be- 

155 


156  TlIK    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

sides  a  large  coninuinit}-  farm,  where  bountiful  crops  and  tiirifty 
young  orchards  were  coming  into  bearing,  when  the  phalanx 
disbanded. 

The  fact  that  fe\er  and  ague  was  to  ravage  the  settlement  in  that 
rich  \  alley  of  the  Mahoning  river  did  not  seem  to  have  occurred 
to  the  ardent  disciples  of  Fourier.  When  the  treasurer  defaulted, 
the  association  went  into  bankruptcy,  and  Mr  Meeker  was  glad  to 
escape  with  half  his  fine  library  and  his  family,  his  young  wife  and 
two  infant  sons,  Ixal])!!  and  George,"  who  were  the  first  born  in 
the  Trumbull  phalanx. 

Mr  Greeley  received  Mr  Meeker's  rejjorts  of  their  experiences 
from  time  to  time  and  did  what  he  could  to  aid  the  struggling 
comnuniity,  all  of  which  served  to  deepen  the  friendship  between 
the  two  men.  Hut  this  failure  did  not  destroy  their  faith  in  a 
properly  conducted  system  of  social  and  industrial  cooperation. 

Mr  Meeker  assured  Mr  Greeley  that  such  an  organization,  estab- 
lished on  sound  business  principles  and  honestly  managed,  wouUl 
be  a  success.  Thus  it  was  that  years  later,  when  Mr  Meeker  dis- 
covered in  Colorado  an  ideal  region  for  founding  a  colony  on  a 
Rocky  mountain  stream,  the  Cache  la  Poudre  river,  in  sight  of 
Long's  peak  and  the  Snowy  range,  Mr  Greelev  was  enthusiastic 
and  said,  "  Go  ahead  with  your  colony  and  I  will  back  you  in  the 
IVibune."  Then  Mr  Meeker  issued  his  famous  "  Call."  The  result 
was  electrical.  Nearly  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  received  in 
subscriptions  for  land  and  irrigation  canals,  in  a  few  weeks,  and 
despite  many  trials,  much  misrepresentation,  to  say  nothing  of  open 
hostility  on  the  part  of  established  cattle  interests,  which  claimed 
first  rights  to  grass  and  water  on  the  open  range  of  the  Great 
Plains,  and  the  hostility  of  the  whiskey  element,  which  bitterly 
resented  Mr  Greeley's  advice  to  Mr  Meeker,  the  president,  "  Have 
no  rum,  and  no  fences  in  your  colony,"  the  scheme  was  carried  out 
after  years  of  opposition. 

Mr  Greeley  had  so  nuich  faith  in  Mr  Meeker  and  the  colony, 
that  he  accepted  the  office  of  treasurer  and  allowed  subscriptions 
to  be  received  at  the  Tribune  office,  where  Mr  Meeker  was  agri- 
culture editor.  Because  of  Mr  Greeley's  friendship,  Mr  Meeker 
named  the  colony  in  honor  of  his  editor-friend,  and  this  is  why 
the  largest  and  most  important  town  in  northern  Colorado  is  known 
the  world  over  as  Greeley. 

When  the  Fa/mer's  Club  in  New  York  sent  a  committee  to  in- 
sjicct  and  report  on  the  new  colony,  they  refused  to  believe  in  the 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  1 57 

32-inch  radish  and  4-pound  potatoes,  raised  that  first  season  in 
Greeley,  on  virgin  prairie  —  on  the  open  plains  which  for  years 
had  appeared  on  school  maps  as  a  part  of  the  Great  American 
desert.  The  owl-eyed  experts  from  the  New  York  h^armer's  Glub, 
without  tasting  them,  said  the  radishes  were  monstrosities  not  fit 
to  eat,  that  the  potatoes  must  be  excrescences,  worthless  for  food. 
The  marvelous  success  of  the  colony,  backed  from  the  start  by  Air 
Greeley,  the  thousands  of  car  loads  of  sugar  beets  and  potatoes 
shipped  annually,  simply  confounded  the  men  who  had  so  long 
called  Air  (ireeley  a  city  farmer,  a  theorist  and  an  impractical 
dreamer. 

Air  Aleeker's  often  ridiculed  ])redictiuns,  published  in  the  first 
years  of  the  colony,  that  sugar  beets  that  had  made  France  and 
(jcrmany  rich,  and  apples  and  other  fruits  could  be  produced  in 
Colorado,  have  all  come  true ;  and  three-quarters  of  a  million  of 
dollars  in  a  single  season  have  been  paid  the  Greeley  farmers  for 
sugar  beets,  and  as  much  more  for  potatoes  and  onions,  saying 
nothing  of  fortunes  from  the  highest  grade  wheat  in  the  world. 

Something  of  the  Tribune's  interest  in  the  project  is  exhibited 
in  the  extracts  from  its  columns  which  are  appended : 

Emigration  to  the  West 

We  are  often  tauntingly  asked,  "If  you  are  so  fond  of  farming 
and  country  life,  why  don't  you  try  them?"  Our  answer  is  short 
and  simi)le:  11' c  do.  Every  one  of  us  who  can  afford  it  has  his 
home  in  the  country,  and  spends  there  all  the  time  that  he  can 
snatch  from  pressing  duties,  and  hopes  for  the  day  when  he  can 
enjoy  there  more  and  more  hours  of  each  week,  and  ultimately  all 
of  them.  At  present,  the  oldest  of  our  writers  is  wintering  on  his 
own  place  in  Florida,  as  he  has  done  for  several  past  winters;  the 
rest  of  us  would  gladly  do  likewise  if  we  might.  But  Work  has 
claims  to  which  Comfort  must  defer. 

Mr  Nathan  C.  Aleeker  —  for  many  years  connected  with  the 
Tribune,  as  he  expects  to  be  for  many  more  —  proposes  to  plant  a 
colony  in  an  admirable  location  discovered  by  him  during  his  recent 
trip  to  the  Rocky  mountains.  It  combines  remarkable  health  fulness 
with  decided  fertility  and  facility  of  cultivation,  an  abundance  of 
serviceable  timber  with  water  in  plenty  for  irrigation  as  well  as 
power,  beauty  of  landscape  and  scenery  with  exemption  from  dis- 
agreeable neighbors;  and  a  railroad  will  soon  bring  it  within  three 
days  of  St  Touis  and  five  from  New  York.  Knowing  Air  Meeker 
(who  is  a  practical  farmer)   to  be  eminently  qualified  for  leading 


158  TlIK    UM\EKSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    VOKK 

and  fuuiuiinj^-  a  colony,  we  advise  temperate,  moral,  industrious. 
iiUellitjent  men  who  would  like  to  make  homes  in  the  Far  West  to 
read  his  letter  herewith  published,  and,  should  his  plan  suit  them. 
write  to  him  (  not  us)  on  the  subject. — Nezv  York  Tribune.  December 
4,  1860. 

A  Western  Colony 

MR    Meeker's    call 

I  propose  to  unite  with  proper  perscjns  in  the  esta])lishment  of  a 
colony  in  Colorado  Territory. 

A  location  which  I  have  seen  is  well  watered  with  streams  and 
springs,  there  are  beautiful  pine  groves,  the  soil  is  rich,  the  climate 
is  healthful,  grass  will  keep  stock  the  year  round,  coal  and  stone 
are  plentiful,  and  a  well-traveled  road  runs  through  the  pro{)erty. 
The  land  is  either  subject  to  entry  under  the  homestead  law.  or  it 
has  not  yet  been  brought  into  market,  but  it  can  be  settled  upon 
without  other  cost  than  $18  for  160  acres.  In  addition,  the  Rocky 
mountain  scenery  is  the  grandest  and  the  most  enchanting  in 
America.  I  have  never  seen  a  place  which  presents  so  many 
advantages  and  opportunities. 

The  persons  with  whom  I  would  be  willing  to  associate  must  be 
temperance  men,  and  ambitious  to  establish  good  society,  and  among 
as  many  as  fifty,  ten  should  have  as  much  as  $10,000  each,  or 
twenty,  $5000  each,  while  others  may  have  $200  to  $1000  and 
upward.  For  many  to  go  so  far  without  means,  can  only  result  in 
disaster.  After  a  time,  poorer  people  can  be  received  and  have  a 
chance. 

My  own  plan  would  be  to  make  the  settlement  almost  wholly  in 
a  village,  and  to  divide  the  land  into  lots  of  10  acres,  and  to  divide 
these  into  8  lots  for  building  purposes,  and  then  to  apportion  to 
each  family  from  40  to  80,  even  160  acres,  adjoining  the  village. 
Northampton,  Massachusetts,  and  several  other  New  England 
towns  and  villages  were  settled  in  this  manner,  but  some  improve- 
ments are  suggested.  Since  some  outlying  tracts  will  be  more 
desirable  than  others,  a  preference  may  be  secured  by  selling  them 
at  auction,  and  the  proceeds  of  such  aj)pro])riated  to  the  use  of  the 
colony  ;  and  all  the  lots  of  the  village  should  be  sold,  that  funds  may 
be  obtained  for  making  improvements  for  the  cc^mmon  goorl  — 
such  as  the  building  of  a  church,  a  town  hall,  a  schoolhouse.  and 
for  the  establishment  of  a  library,  by  which  means  the  lots  will  be 
worth  five  or  ten  times  more  than  they  cost ;  and  one  of  the  very 
first  public  institutions  should  be  a  first-class  school,  in  which  not 


NATHAN    COOK    MEEKER 

Founder  and  president  of  Greeley  colony,  Colorado 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  1 59 

only  common  but  the  higher  branches  should  be  taught,  including 
music.  The  town  of  Lincoln,  the  capital  of  Nebraska,  adopted  this 
plan  on  a  large  scale,  and  several  hundred  thousand  dollars  have 
already  been  obtained. 

Some  of  the  advantages  of  settling  in  a  village  will  be :  easy 
access  to  schools  and  to  public  places,  meetings,  lectures,  and  the 
like,  and  society  can  be  had  at  once.  In  planting,  in  fruit-growing, 
and  in  improving  homes  generally,  the  skill  and  experience  of  a 
few  will  be  common  to  all,  and  much  greater  progress  can  be  made 
than  where  each  lives  isolated.  It  seems  to  me  that  a  laundry  and 
bakery  could  be  established,  and  the  washing  and  baking  could 
be  done  for  all  the  community;  but  other  household  work  should 
be  done  by  the  families.  In  all  this,  the  separate  household,  and 
the  ownership  of  property,  should  be  without  change;  and  I  only 
propose  that,  if  there  are  any  advantages  in  cooperation,  they  could 
be  secured  by  a  colony.  Cheap  rates  of  passage  and  freight  could 
be  secured,  while  many  things,  which  all  will  want  in  the  commence- 
ment, can  be  bought  at  wholesale.  There  are  some  other  advantages 
which  I  think  such  a  town  will  possess,  and  they  are  important ; 
but  in  this  announcement  I  do  not  think  proper  to  mention  them, 
and,  besides,  there  are  of  course  disadvantages. 

Farmers  will  be  wanted,  nurserymen,  florists,  and  almost  all 
kinds  of  mechanics,  as  well  as  capitalists  to  use  the  coal  and  water- 
power  in  running  machinery.  Inasmuch  as  millions  of  acres  of 
excellent  grass  are  in  the  vicinity,  and  which  for  years  will  lie 
open,  stock  can  be  kept  by  each  family,  and  at  a  small  expense 
it  can  be  cared  for  by  herdsmen  employed  l)y  the  people.  The 
profit  of  stock-growing  can  be  considered  certain,  for  the  locality 
is  not  as  far  from  the  Missouri  river  as  Texas,  whence  immense 
numbers  of  cattle  are  driveri.  Besides,  railroads  are  nearly  com- 
pleted, and  a  railroad  is  almost  certain  to  pass  through  the  land  I 
refer  to.     The  establishment  of  a  colony  would  hasten  the  day. 

After  the  colony  shall  be  organized,  it  will  be  proper  to  appoint 
a  committee  of  good  men  to  visit  the  country  and  fix  on  the  location, 
for  there  are  other  places,  and  a  choice  is  to  be  made. 

The  first  settlers  must  of  course  be  pioneers:  for  houses,  mills, 
and  mechanic  shops  are  to  be  built,  that  families  may  come  with 
few  privations,  and  as  long  as  six  months  will  be  required. 

Whatever  professions  and  occupations  enter  into  the  formation 
of  an  intelligent,  educated,  and  thrifty  community  should  be  em- 
braced by  this  colony;  and  it  should  be  the  object  to  exhibit  all  that 
is  best  in  modern  civilization. 


l()0  THE    LNINEKSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

In  particular  sliuuld  moral  and  religious  sentiments  prevail ;  for 
without  these  qualities  man  is  nothing.  At  the  same  time,  tolerance 
and  lilicrality  should  also  prevail.  One  thing  more  is  equally  im- 
portant. Ilappincss,  wealth,  and  the  glory  of  a  state,  spring  from 
the  family,  and  it  should  he  an  aim  and  a  high  ambition  to  preserve 
the  family  pure  in  all  its  relations,  and  to  labor  with  the  best  efforts 
life  and  strength  can  give  to  make  the  home  comfortable,  to  beautify 
and  to  adorn  it,  and  to  supply  it  with  whatever  will  make  it  attrac- 
tive and  loved. 

This  is  in  the  \icinity  of  the  mining  region,  which  is  destined  to 
be  developed  more  and  more  for  years  to  come;  and,  besides  silver 
and  gold,  there  are  all  other  kinds  of  metals;  and  the  market  for 
every  kind  of  farm  product  is  as  good  as  in  New  York,  perhaps 
better.  It  is  a  decidedly  healthful  region  ;  the  air  is  remarkably 
pure,  summer  is  pleasant,  the  winter  is  mild,  with  little  snow,  and 
agues  are  unknown.  Already,  consumptives  are  going  thither  for 
their  health,  and  tourists  and  visitors  will  find  great  attractions 
during  the  summer.  Mineral  springs  are  near,  and  perhaps  on  the 
locality  I  have  referred  to.  Deer,  antelope,  wild  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens,  and  speckled  trout  abound;  but  at  present  there  are  too 
many  wolves  and  bears. 

I  make  the  point  that  two  important  objects  will  be  gained  by 
such  a  colony.  First,  schools,  refined  society,  and  all  the  advantages 
of  an  old  country,  will  be  secured  in  a  few  years;  while,  on  the 
contrary,  where  settlements  are  made  by  the  old  method,  people  are 
obliged  to  wait  20,  40,  and  more  years ;  second,  with  free  home- 
steads as  a  basis,  with  the  sale  of  reserved  lots  for  the  general  good, 
the  greatly  increased  value  of  real  estate  will  be  for  the  benefit 
of  all  the  people,  not  for  schemers  and  speculators.  In  the  success 
of  this  colony,  a  model  will  be  presented  for  settling  the  remainder 
of  the  vast  territory  of  our  country. 

Persons  wishing  to  unite  in  such  a  colony,  will  please  address 
me  at  the  Tribune  office,  stating  their  occupation  and  the  value  of 
the  i)roperty  which  they  could  take  with  them. 

N.  C.  Meeker 

New  York,  December,  i86q 

New  York  Trihunc,  December  4.  rSdg. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  l6l 

Colonization 

THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  A  WESTERN  COLONY 

Room  no.  24,  Cooper  Institute,  was  crowded  to  overflowing  yes- 
terday with  gentlemen  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  to  attend  the 
colony  meeting,  which  was  announced  in  the  Tribune  a  few  days 
ago.  Horace  Greeley  was  appointed  chairman.  He  opened  the 
meeting  with  a  brief  address,  as  follows : 

This  is  a  meeting  of  persons  who  propose  emigrating  in  a  colony 
to  the  West.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  organize.  One  man  can 
do  the  work  of  100  men.  I  believe  that  there  ought  to  be  not  only 
one,  but  1000  colonies.  Still  I  would  advise  no  one  who  is  doing 
well  to  leave  his  business  and  go  West,  unless  he  is  sure  of  better- 
ing his  condition.  But  there  are  many  men  working  for  wages  who 
ought  to  emigrate.  I  dislike  to  see  men  in  advanced  life  working 
for  salaries  in  places  where  perhaps  they  are  ordered  about  by  boys. 
I  would  like  to  see  them  working  for  themselves. 

I  do  not  know  whether  emigration  is  the  best  remedy,  but  I  think 
so.  New  York  is  filled  with  people,  yet  there  are  thousands  who 
want  to  come  hither,  never  thinking  that  the  cost  of  living  eats  up 
the  greater  part  of  their  earnings.  Air  Meeker  does  not  wish  to  give 
the  locality  of  the  place  where  it  is  proposed  to  establish  the  colony, 
for  speculators  will  flock  in  and  buy  up  all  of  the  desirable  land. 
That  is  the  way  things  are  done  nowadays. 

Mr  N.  C.  Meeker,  the  originator  of  the  colony  movement,  said : 

The  number  of  persons  expressing  by  letter  a  desire  to  join  the 
Colorado  colony,  so-called,  is  over  800,  and  it  will  undoubtedly  ex- 
ceed 1000,  and  according  to  the  statement  of  the  writers  they  are 
worth  considerably  more  than  $1,000,000,  perhaps  near  $2,000,000. 
I  judge  that  one-half  are  worth  $1000  each,  that  a  fair  proportion 
are  worth  from  $3000  to  $5000,  while  there  is  a  fair  representation 
of  those  worth  $10,000,  and  from  this  up  to  $50,000.  There  are  a 
good  many  young  men  unmarried,  worth  generally  from  $200  to 
$500.  and  some  more.  All  trades,  professions,  and  pursuits  are  rep- 
resented, many  are  educated,  and  the  majority  are  farmers.  Fully 
one-half  are  church  members. 

A  great  many  inquiries  have  been  made  which  I  had  no  time  to 
answer,  and  if  I  had  little  could  be  said  at  this  stage  of  the  move- 
ment. Of  danger  from  the  Indians  it  is  to  be  said  that  no  fears 
need  be  entertained,  and  if  they  were  troublesome,  the  young  men  of 
the  colony  proposed  alone  would  be  glad  to  settle  with  them.  I  will 
now  state  some  of  the  ditticulties  which  are  presented  in  the  found- 
ing of  the  proposed  colony.  Every  enter]Drise  will  be  opposed  by 
difliculties,  and  if  they  are  not  foreseen  a  failure  may  confidently  be 
predicted.  It  is  not  likely  that  more  than  half  of  those  proposing 
to  go  will  do  so;  perhaps  not  more  than  300.  Now,  if  each  is  to 
have  160  acres  of  land,  this  will  make  48,000  acres,  and  the  distance 
from  the  proposed  village  to  a  large  portion  of  the  farms  must  be 


l62  THE    I'XIVERSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

from  2  to  3/^  miles,  and  it  will  be  seen  at  once  that  to  accommodate 
all  with  land  near  this  town  is  impossible — in  short,  it  will  be  im- 
possible to  reside  in  town  and  at  the  same  time  have  what  is  called 
a  western  farm  near  by.  Some  could  do  so,  it  is  true ;  but,  so  far  as 
possible,  a  fair  division  should  be  made.  It  is  a  question,  then, 
w  helher  the  land  adjoining  the  town  should  not  be  divided  in  parcels 
of  from  3  to  lo  acres,  for  the  growing  of  grain  and  food  for  the 
family,  which  in  addition  to  the  town  lot,  would  furnish  ample  sup- 
port. Then  larger  tracts  could  be  owned  further  away.  If  the 
people  are  to  live  in  a  village,  so  as  to  enjoy  all  the  advantages  of 
schools  and  the  Hke,  something  must  be  surrendered  in  the  way  of 
ambition  to  own  much  land  near  by,  for  to  unite  the  two,  however 
(icsirable,  is  impossible.  Such  small  parcels  will  be  all  that  mechanics 
and  professional  men  can  work,  and  farmers  themselves  can  keep 
pretty  busy  on  lo  acres.  It  is  to  be  considered  that  in  connection 
large  quantities  of  land  are  open  for  the  growing  stock,  which  should 
be  the  leading  pursuit  of  the  colonists,  and  it  is  the  only  source  from 
which  much  money  can  be  expected.  I  take  it  that  if  men  want  to 
own  large  farms,  the  colonial  plan  is  not  one  suited  to  this  object. 
Still,  upon  the  basis  of  small  holdings,  near  the  town  the  increase 
in  value  will  be  fully  equal  to  the  increase  in  value  on  isolated  farms. 
I  throw  out  these  points  that  people  may  see  for  themselves  how 
matters  must  stand.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  lots  and  land  were  held 
in  some  of  the  best  New  England  towns  in  precisely  this  manner, 
not  because  land  was  dear,  but  because  there  was  no  other  way  to 
accommodate  the  majority. 

Another  difficulty  lies  in  undertaking  to  occupy  all  the  land  under 
the  Homestead.  Land  speculators  are  keen  to  perceive  opportunities, 
and  whenever  they  find  great  improvements  on  foot  they  are  ready 
to  enter  large  tracts,  that,  at  a  future  day,  may  sell  at  a  high  price. 
This  they  call  making  an  investment.  I  had  thought  of  the  prob- 
abilities in  this  case,  but  I  was  not  strongly  impressed  with  it,  because 
the  low  price  at  which  land  can  be  bought  of  the  Government  made 
it  evident  that  the  difficulty  would  not  be  serious.  The  advantages 
of  taking  up  land  under  the  Homestead,  by  which  one  is  obliged  to 
occupy  the  ground  five  years  before  a  title  can  be  secured,  over  the 
buying  at  $1.25  an  acre,  are  not  great.  I  have  now  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  is  ntit  safe  to  establish  a  colony  unless  the  land  is 
bought  the  first  thing.  When  a  location  shall  be  decided  upon, 
funds  should  be  on  hand  to  enter  the  land  in  a  solid  block.  None 
of  us  would  be  willing  to  leave  the  comforts  of  home  and  remove 
to  the  Far  West,  to  be  hampered  by  land  monopolists.  Land  can 
be  bought  with  agricultural  and  other  scrip,  so  that  it  will  cost  not 
much  more  than  90  cents  an  acre.  It  would  seem  from  the  great 
number  of  applications,  that  several  colonies  can  be  formed,  but  let 
us  have  one  first. 

A  greater  difficulty  than  all  others  lies  in  the  fact  that  generally 
crops  can  not  be  grown  in  Colorado  without  irrigation.  A  stream 
runs  through  the  locality  to  which  I  have  made  reference,  but  prob- 
ably there  is  not  water  enough  for  more  than  50  farms,  some  of 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  163 

which  must  be  small.  Still  it  is  claimed  that  there  are  limited  dis- 
tricts where  there  is  a  sufficient  fall  of  rain,  and  this  is  said  to  be  one. 
Whether  this  is  true,  is  to  be  determined  by  a  committee.  There 
are  places  where  water  is  abundant,  where  the  soil  is  rich,  where  a 
part  of  the  land  belongs  to  Government  and  a  part  to  a  railroad,  but 
neither  timber,  stone,  nor  coal  are  near.  There  are  other  places 
beside,  and  I  have  written  to  leading  men  in  the  territory  to  have 
an  investigation  made. 

It  is  needed  now  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  go  on  and 
search  for  a  location  that  will  be  suited  to  the  greatest  variety  of 
pursuits.  The  plan  is  certainly  an  experiment,  and  for  a  first 
colony  more  natural  advantages  will  be  required  than  for  other 
colonies  having  for  a  guide  the  experience  of  the  pioneer  colony. 
I  would  name  in  the  order  of  their  importance  that  which  should  be 
sought:  first,  healthfulness ;  second,  a  varied  and  rich  soil  natural 
for  grass;  third,  timber  and  coal,  or  both;  fourth,  iron  ore;  fifth, 
adaptation  to  fruit;  sixth,  water  power;  seventh,  beauty  of  scenery. 
The  interests  of  so  many  families  with  the  earnings  of  their  lives 
and  the  comforts  of  home,  the  interests  of  so  many  industrious, 
skilful,  intelligent,  and  well-to-do  people  must  not  be  put  in  jeopardy 
for  want  of  thorough  investigation. 

Mr  Greeley  said  that  he  was  the  descendant  of  ancestors  who 
were  the  founders  of  one  of  the  most  noted  colonies  in  the  country 
—  the  Londonderry  colony  in  New^  Hampshire  —  and  today  some 
of  them  own  the  land  on  which  they  live.  Each  man  had  a  few 
rods  on  the  road,  running  back  a  mile,  making  160  acres.  The 
Salt  Lake  plan  is  good.  The  ^Mormons  are  a  clever  people.  Their 
plan  is  to  put  eight  settlers  on  10  acres,  allowing  each  man  1^4  acres. 
He  agreed  with  the  remarks  made  by  Mr  ]\leeker.  and  he  believed 
in  irrigation.  A  very  little  water  goes  a  great  deal  further  than  peo- 
ple generally  suppose.  In  California  they  use  much  more  than  is 
necessary.  In  regard  to  emigrating,  he  said  that  many  persons 
would  find  that,  when  they  came  to  sell  their  places,  their  funds 
would  be  smaller  than  they  anticipated.  There  are  numbers  of 
young  men  who  have  little  money,  but  they  are  just  as  good  as  those 
who  have  more.  He  would  get  a  deed  of  the  land  on  which  the 
colonists  propose  to  settle  before  the  village  was  staked  out.  All 
of  the  settlers  will  noc  have  the  same  plans.  Some  will  have  chil- 
dren to  educate,  and  they  will  want  to  live  near  the  schools.  Others 
who  desire  to  raise  stock  had  just  as  soon  live  two  or  three  miles 
out  of  town.  It  is  impossible  to  make  rules  for  all.  The  small 
tract  system  will  not  succeed  in  a  new  country,  for  when  people 
get  out  on  the  prairies  a  feeling  of  expansion  takes  hold  of  them. 
He  would  not  have  less  than  160  acres  were  he  going  to  emigrate, 
even  if  he  did  not  want  to  use  it  for  several  years.    A  working  sec- 


164  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

retary  should  be  appointed  to  answer  letters,  &c.  The  man  who 
wants  information  ought  to  be  willing  to  pay  for  it.  A  printed  cir- 
cular would  answer  nine-tenths  of  the  correspondents.  An  execu- 
tive committee  and  a  committee  on  location  should  be  appointed. 

Mr  Arthur  Murphy  of  Brooklyn  —  This  is  a  serious  business.  It 
is  the  beginning  of  nol  only  one,  I)ut  of  twenty  colonies.  The  first 
must  not  be  a  failure  for  the  success  of  all  the  others  depends  upon 
the  success  of  the  first.  Each  member  must  be  satisfied,  and  it  is 
necessary  that  we  get  acquainted  with  one  another  and  then  organ- 
ize.    There  must  be  harmony. 

Cien.  Cameron  of  Elmira,  N.  Y. —  What  wc  need  is  an  organiza- 
tion and  money.  I  went  to  Indiana  when  it  was  a  wilderness,  and 
to  Chicago  when  it  was  a  mudholc,  and  now  I  want  to  go  to  Colo- 
rado. 1  will  give  $5  to  begin  with.  Our  proposed  location  should 
not  be  known  even  to  the  members  of  the  colony.  Nowhere  in  the 
globe  is  there  another  such  a  country  as  at  the  West.  The  great 
mining  region  is  to  be  developed  and  to  do  this  will  create  a  market 
that  can  not  be  overstocked.  We  don't  want  New  York  for  a  mar- 
ket, we  will  have  the  continent  to  supply.     (Applause.) 

Mr  E.  D.  Carpenter  of  Putnam,  Conn.,  said  that  he  was  greatly 
interested  in  what  had  been  said.  He  was  in  favor  of  giving  $5  to 
become  a  member.  The  1000  letters  received  by  Mr  Meeker  signify 
nothing.  I  did  not  write  to  him.  yet  I  want  to  go,  and  I  know  many 
more  of  the  same  mind. 

Mr  Gregory  of  New  York  City  —  The  best  colony  I  ever  saw 
was  the  New-Braunfels,  Texas;  also,  the  one  at  Castorville.  They 
have  not  only  a  good  colony,  but  a  city.  There  are  schools,  churches, 
manufactories  and  in  fact,  everything  that  tends  to  civilize  and  refine 
the  world.  They  commenced  with  10  acres  outside  of  the  town,  and 
with  half  an  acre  for  the  dwelling. 

Mr  Greeley  asked  if  the  railroad  companies  would  make  a  reduc- 
tion when  there  were  200  or  300  families  going?" 

N.  C.  Meeker  —  As  to  passengers,  the  fare  from  here  to  Sheridan 
is  too  high.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  half-fare  tickets  can  be  ob- 
tained. Some  of  the  western  roads  have  already  promised  this  much, 
and  I  presume  the  others  will  also. 

A  provisional  committee  was  then  appointed  to  nominate  officers 
The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  until  3  o'clock,  when  resolutions 
were  adopted  in  substance  as  follows : 

That  the  colony  be  called  the  "  Union  colony,"  the  officers  of 
which  were  then  elected,  namely: 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  1 65 

N.  C.  Meeker,  president;  Gen.  [Robert  A.]  Cameron,  vice  presi- 
dent ;  Horace  Greeley,  treasurer ;  Executive  committee :  Richmond 
Fiske.  Hoosick  Falls.  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y. ;  Arthur  ]\Iurphy, 
No.  157  Adams  St.,  Brooklyn;  Nathanial  Paul,  Wakefield.  N.  H. ; 
C.  O.  Poole,  No.  125  East  17th  St..  N.  Y. ;  G.  C.  Shelton,  Seymour, 
Conn. 

That  each  member  pay  $5  for  current  expenses,  and  also  hold 
subject  to  the  call  of  the  treasurer  Si 50  for  a  purchase  fund  for  the 
land  to  be  bought,  and  that  no  member  can  buy  more  than  160 
acres,  and  that  said  money  shall  be  refunded  if  the  land  is  not  set- 
tled within  a  reasonable  period,  to  l^e  prescril)ed  by  the  executive 
committee. 

The  number  of  persons  who  paid  their  initiation  fee  ($5)  was 
59.  The  greatest  enthusiasm  prevailed,  and  all  agreed  that  they 
had  never  attended  a  more  harmonious  meeting.  Many  came  with- 
out money,  but  they  promised  to  send  it  by  mail  on  their  return 
home.  Those  willing  to  subscribe  to  the  general  plan  of  the  colony 
as  has  been  stated,  and  to  contribute  to  the  locating  committee  fund, 
may  do  so  by  forwarding  their  address  and  $5  to  the  treasurer, 
Horace  Greeley,  at  the  Tribune  office.  This  amount  from  each 
member  is  necessary  to  enable  the  committee  to  go  West  and  select 
the  desired  location.  Further  notice  of  future  movements  will  be 
given  through  the  columns  of  the  Tribune.—  Nc7i'  York  Tribune, 
December  24,  i86p. 

Horace  Greeley's  Letter  on  Greeley,  Colorado 

Greeley.  Colorado,  Oct.  /?,  t8/0. 
My  Friend  : 

Let  me  give  you  some  idea  of  this  j^lace  and  people. 

Between  the  main  branches  which  form  the  river  Platte,  several 
smaller  rivers  or  large  creeks  issue  from  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and,  after  a  short  cruise  over  the  Plains,  fall  into 
the  North  or  the  South  Platte.  The  largest  of  these  is  the  Laramie; 
next  comes  the  Cache  a  Poudre,  which  rises  in  the  snowy  range  near 
Long's  Peak  and  runs  nearly  due  east  into  the  South  Platte,  about 
half-way  of  its  course  over  the  Plains.  The  new  Denver  Pacific 
Road  connecting  the  Kansas  Pacific  at  Denver  with  the  Union 
Pacific  at  Cheyenne  crosses  the  Cache  a  Poudre  five  miles  above  its 
junction  with  the  South  Platte,  and  here  is  located  around  the  rail- 
road station,  which  has  as  yet  no  depot,  the  new  village  of  Greeley, 
youngest  cousin  of  Jonah's  gourd. 


l66  THE    ITNIVERSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OE    .NEW    YORK 

Greeley,   Colorado 

The  location  was  pitched  upon  by  the  locating  committee  of  our 
Union  Colony  about  the  ist  of  March  last,  the  land  secured  soon 
afterward,  and  the  settlers  began  to  arrive  on  the  bare,  bleak 
prairie  early  in  May.  There  were  no  buildings,  and  nothing  whereof 
to  erect  them,  and  the  soil  could  not  Ijc  cultivated  to  any  'purpose 
without  irrigation ;  yet  here  we  have  already  some  seven  hundred 
families,  three  hundred  houses  built  or  nearly  finished  in  the  vil- 
lage, one  hundred  more  scattered  on  the  prairie  around,  and  prob- 
ably two  thousand  persons  in  all,  with  more  daily  arriving.  We 
have  an  irrigating  canal  which  takes  water  from  the  Cache  six  miles 
above  and  distributes  it  over  one  thousand  acres,  as  it  will  do  over 
several  thousands  more ;  and  we  are  making  another  in  the  north  side 
of  the  Cache  very  much  longer,  which  is  to  irrigate  at  least  twenty 
thousand  acres.  We  are  soon  to  have  a  newspaper  (we  have  al- 
ready a  bank),  and  we  calculate  that  our  colony  will  give  at  least  five 
hundred  majority  for  a  Republican  President  in  1872,  after  harvest- 
ing that  year  a  wheat  crop  of  not  less  than  fifty  thousand  bushels, 
with  other  crops  to  match.  And  we  hope  to  incite  the  foundation 
of  many  such  colonies  on  every  side  of  us. 

But  enough  of  this.  I  spoke  to  the  colonists  in  the  open  air 
yesterday,  traversed  the  settlement  and  examined  its  canal,  to  the 
head,  and  leave  this  morning  on  the  train  for  home,  where  I  hope  to 
be,  thankful  for  a  safe  and  rapid  journey,  on  Monday  evening  next. 
This  letter  would  reach  you  sooner  if  I  carried  it.  but  I  wish  it  to 
bear  the  proper  post-mark,  and  to  show  you  that  I  write  at  sunrise, 
looking  off  upon  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  present  a  bold  and 
even  front  some  twenty-five  miles  westward,  with  Long's  Peak 
about  sixty  miles  off  as  the  crow  flies,  and  many  others  covered  with 
eternal  snow  glistening  behind  and  around  it.  Excuse  great  haste, 
for  I  have  much  to  do  before  leaving  at  9.45,  and  believe  me  ever 

Yours 

Horace  Greelev 
- — Some  Familiar  Letters  by  Horace  Greeley, 
Lippincott's.  March  i8gi,  p.  ^48. 


HORACE  GREELEY,   POLITICAL 
AND  SOCIAL  LEADER 


HORACE  GREELEY,  POLITICAL  AND  SOCIAL 

LEADER 

BY   RICHARD    E.    DAY 

Horace  Greeley  was  born  February  3,  181 1,  in  a  rural  New 
Hampshire  town.  He  was  one  of  seven  children,  and  his  oppor- 
tunities for  attendance  at  school  were  limited.  But  we  learn  from 
Airs  Clendenin's  sketch  of  her  father,  contributed  to  the  "  Genealogy 
of  the  Greely-Greeley  Family,"  that  the  "  mother  kept  her  boy  close 
beside  her  as  she  spun,  and  told  him  beautiful  stories  and  bits  of 
history  and  fairy  lore,  and  sang  sweet  Scottish  ballads  till  his  mind 
was  kindled  and  he  longed  to  read  himself  " ;  and  that  the  compan- 
ionship of  books  was  his  early  good  fortune. 

It  will  not  be  said  that  the  little  lad  on  the  small  New  England 
farm  lacked  means  of  education,  since  he  had  a  mother  who  knew 
how  to  touch  the  finer  chords  of  childish  sensibility,  and  his  mind 
was  in  contact  with  books.  Systematic  training  was  to  come  in  the 
school  of  affairs  ;  moral  discipline  he  knew  from  the  first ;  and  genius 
must  generally  be  accounted  happy  when  the  earliest  influences  to 
which  it  is  subject  reach  it  in  unmethodical  fashion. 

When  Horace  was  ten  years  old,  the  family  removed  to  West 
Haven,  Vt.  He  had  already  revealed  an  inclination  toward  the 
pursuit  in  which  his  achievements  were  to  be  brilliant  and  endur- 
ing. His  first  application,  at  the  age  of  eleven,  for  an  opportunity 
to  learn  the  printer's  art,  was  rejected,  but  three  years  later  he  was 
admitted  to  an  apprenticeship  in  the  office  of  the  Northern  Specta- 
tor, at  East  Poultney,  where  his  mental  growth  was  rapid,  and  his 
absorption  and  command  of  general  information  won  the  admiration 
of  his  elders. 

In  1830  the  newspaper  was  suspended;  so  the  boy  of  nineteen  set 
forth  as  a  journeyman  printer,  with  a  future  to  work  out,  unaided. 
He  went  to  Pennsylvania,  to  which  the  Greeley  household  had  re- 
moved; and  found  brief  employment  in  different  places.  Business 
misfortunes  had  gathered  around  his  father ;  and  it  is  a  shining 
feature  of  this  chapter  of  Greeley's  youth  that  he  contributed  some- 
thing from  his  meager  earnings  to  the  maintenance  of  the  home, 
while  his  own  progress  was  beset  with  rugged  difficulties.  But  the 
city  summoned  him  to  its  theater  of  struggle.  Of  struggle  he  al- 
ready knew  much ;  but  he  was  to  match  his  strength  with  that  of 
greater  gladiators  than  he  had  met.  and  come  into  the  full  stream 
of  ideas  characteristic  of  his  time.     To  New  York  City  he  journeyed, 

169 


170  THE    LNUKKSn  V    Ui-    THli    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

in  1831,  a  part  of  the  way  on  foot,  arriving  there  with  little  money 
and  with  no  earthly  reliance  save  willing  hands,  iron  purpose  and 
the  unde\  eloped  power  of  whose  eager  stirring  he  was  conscious. 

The  period  of  the  yoting  stranger's  arrival  and  early  labors  in 
New  York  was  important  in  the  history  of  human  rights.  In  Eng- 
land, it  was  the  period  of  Catholic  emancipation  and  the  reform  bill, 
by  which  representation  in  i*arliament  was  adjusted  to  population. 
It  saw  the  abolishment  of  slavery  in  the  British  colonies  and  the 
passage  of  a  factory  act,  limiting  the  labor  of  children.  In  France 
the  rule  of  reaction  and  absolutism  had  been  broken  by  revolution, 
and  agitation  for  political  and  mental  freedom  was  under  way.  In 
America  William  JJoyd  Garrison  had  launched  his  assault  against 
human  bondage,  announcing  that  he  would  not  "  think,  or  speak, 
or  write  with  moderation."  It  was  an  era  of  transition  in  politics. 
Nullification,  antimasonry  and  national  republicanism  disputed  with 
the  Jackson  democracy  the  possession  of  public  confidence.  The 
year  1834  found  Greeley  issuing  and  editing  the  New  Yorker,  a 
literary  and  political  paper;  and  that  year  was  distinguished  by  the 
rise  of  the  W  hig  party,  itself  a  medium  of  transition  to  the  conflict 
which  was  soon  to  divide  the  American  people.  In  1838,  at  the  in- 
vitation of  Thurlow  Weed,  the  young  editor  took  charge  of  a  cam- 
paign sheet  put  forth  in  Albany,  the  design  of  which  was  to  further 
the  election  of  William  H.  Seward  as  Governor  of  New  York  and 
promote  the  progress  of  Whig  principles.  Both  objects  received 
a  vigorous  impulse  from  this  new  personal  force  in  American  poli- 
tics. Two  years  afterward  his  Log  Cabin  was  a  strong  agency  m 
winning  votes  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  Whig  candidate  for 
President ;  and  nothing  could  have  been  more  refreshing  to  a  reflec- 
tive citizen  in  that  exuberant  canvass  than  the  union  of  thought 
with  enthusiasm  which  its  columns  exhibited.  It  is  of  much  signifi- 
cance that  the  formative  stage  of  Horace  Greeley's  opinions  was 
attained  at  a  period  when  parties  were  in  a  fluid  condition,  and  issues 
were  changing;  since  opportunity  was  given  for  the  growth  of  his 
convictions  free  from  the  pressure  of  one  dominating  idea.  The 
cause  of  African  emancipation  could  rot  have  failed  to  impress  his 
conscience ;  but  he  did  not  conceive  that  that  cause  would  be  best 
served  by  separating  it  from  other  questions  with  which  it  was 
complicated;  and  he  had  little  difficulty  in  determining  that  the  im- 
mediate duty  of  the  enemies  of  slavery  was  to  oppose  its  extension 
and  check  the  arrogance  of  the  slave-holding  interest. 

The  breadth  of  Greeley's  sympathies  enabled  him  to  enter  into 
other  causes  than  that  of  the  negro;  and  during  that  larger  political 


X 


Sfi'  ^et^-^0rEeir, 


•  •^te^tVblialMlal  u  vatT«  (^«i)t&  .rifia.^ 


,.■„,..:;«;  x\-.s,»a 


"S.-KiS.'p.'ll.T^i""""'"- 


THE    IIRST    ISSUE    OF    THE    NEW-YORKER 


lIUKACIi    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I/I 

life  which  opened  before  him  with  the  estabHshment  of  the  Tribune, 
in  the  spring  of  1841,  he  was  the  friend  of  all  that  were  oppressed, 
the  foe  of  all  oppressors.  Living  a  personal  life  in  a  wider  measure 
than  most  journalists,  his  interests  overflowed  the  intensely  individ- 
ual newspaper  which  he  conducted.  His  sympathy  with  the  liberal 
movement  in  Ireland  and  the  uprisings  on  the  continent  of  Europe 
in  1848  and  subsequently  was  strongly  manifested.  In  the  lecture 
platfonii  he  found  a  place  for  the  dissemination  of  ideas  in  behalf 
of  the  cause  of  labor,  ideas  on  social  and  educational  themes  —  ideas 
that  were  more  stimulating  to  the  minds  of  his  hearers  than  fliiler- 
ing  to  their  prejudices. 

Notable  always  was  Greeley's  interest  in  undertakings  and  expe- 
riments which  oitered  to  advance  the  welfare  of -farmers  or  work- 
ingmen ;  in  a  particular  manner  he  expressed  his  regard  for  printers 
and  newspaper  workers.  At  one  period  he  advocated  economic 
features  of  the  socialistic  scheme  known  as  Fourierism.  The  prin- 
ciple of  profit-sharing  was  introduced  into  the  organization  of  tiie 
Tribune ;  and  his  name  is  cherished  in  New  York  Typographical 
Union  No.  6  as  that  of  its  first  president,  elected  January  19,  1850. 
More  than  any  other  American  of  equal  eminence  in  his  time  he 
divined  the  depth  and  reach  of  the  !a1)or  movement.  lie  viewed 
the  rights  of  the  laljorer  not  merely  as  affected  by  slavery  or  by  day 
wages,  but  in  a  more  vital  relation  —  as  connected  with  social  oppor- 
tunity. Borne  onward  ])y  his  tremendous  idealism,  he  thought  of 
labor  as  the  coming  heir  to  all  the  good  things  accumulated  for  the 
spirit  of  man  by  the  ages.  The  substance  of  his  best  counsel  to  labor 
was  this :    Make  yourself  ready  for  that  day. 

The  Whig  party,  toward  the  close  of  its  stormy  existence,  saw 
leadership  lodged  more  and  more  surely  with  men  competent  to 
interpret  the  new  spirit  of  the  North.  Of  these  Horace  Greeley 
was  probably  chief ;  and,  when  the  party  which  had  boasted  a  Web- 
ster and  a  Clay  gave  place  to  one  called  to  a  task  which  Whiggism 
v/as  incompetent  to  perform,  and  all  other  interests  yielded  to  the 
question  whether  the  slave  power  should  be  determinedly  resisted, 
the  Tribune  l^ecamc  an  oracle  of  might,  not  as  imposing  opinions  on 
unwilling  minds,  but  as  giving  ])ack  to  the  conscience  of  the  free 
states  its  own  deepest  utterances,  made  nobly  articulate. 

It  is  often  asserted,  in  considering  the  influence  enjoyed  by  jour- 
nalists of  the  Greeley  type,  that  the  superior  independence  of  the 
present  generation  of  newspaper  readers  prevents  the  reappearance 
of  such  an  influence.  Improbable  as  it  is  that  the  personal  sway 
which  the  founder  of  the  Tribune  exerted  will  be  attained  again  by 


172  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

a  newspaper  editor,  there  is  a  different  exijlanatioii.  The  men  to 
whom  the  Tribune  appealed  in  the  fifties  have  not  been  surpassed 
in  intelhgence  and  earnestness  by  any  generation  of  Americans.  If 
they  trusted  Horace  Greeley,  it  was  because  they  had  become  well 
satisfied  of  his  honesty  and  clearness  of  vision.  They  believed  in 
him,  as  they  came  to  believe  in  Abraham  Lincoln ;  and  it  is  yet  to  be 
proved,  though  constantly  assumed,  that  disbelief  is  a  more  intel- 
lectual quality  than  belief.  The  social  organization  is  now  so  com- 
plex and  the  interests  which  compel  the  citizen's  attention  so  numer- 
ous as  to  forbid  the  renewal  of  that  type  of  heroic  leadership  which 
prevailed  when  one  great  issue  absorbed  the  nation's  life. 

It  was  the  hope  of  the  Republican  leaders  to  stay  the  encroach- 
ments of  slavery  and  yet  prevent  a  disruption  of  the  nation.  There 
were  men  in  the  field  who  were  dedicated  solely  to  the  destruction 
of  slavery.  They  were  less  troubled  over  the  possible  results  to  our 
Federal  Union  of  their  agitation  and  the  flaming  protests  in  the 
South  which  their  activity  provoked.  Their  task  was  simple,  seer- 
like, splendid.  But,  when  the  clash  of  two  incompatible  civilizations 
occurred  at  Charleston,  April  12,  1861.  the  work  of  the  mere  agitator 
was  done.  He  could  lift  his  voice  for  the  Union ;  but  he  did  this  sub- 
ject to  the  embarrassments  of  one  who  had  denounced  the  venerated 
instrument  by  which  the  Union  was  held  together  as  "  an  agree- 
ment with  hell."  The  President  who  was  gathering  to  his  side  the 
whole  available  strength  of  the  North  could  not  seek  his  counselors 
among  those  whom  many  held  responsible  in  a  measure  for  the 
war.  Massachusetts  yielded  the  first  place  to  New  York,  with  her 
immense  resources  of  men  and  money  and  her  conceded  conser- 
vatism, as  South  Carolina  in  the  South  surrendered  the  first  place 
to  the  more  powerful  and  more  moderate  Virginia.  At  this  junc- 
ture the  great  editor,  with  the  remarkable  organ  of  opinion  which 
he  was  twenty  years  building,  became  a  far  more  potent  figure 
than  Garrison,  the  fiery  evangel  of  abolitionism,  or  that  still  more 
gifted  prophet.  Wendell  Phillips.  Horace  Greeley  too  had  been 
a  voice  in  the  wilderness.  But  his  whole  soul  shrunk  from  the 
fearful  consequences  involved  in  the  logic  of  the  antislavery  move- 
ment. He  even  argued,  when  armed  issue  was  about  to  be  joined, 
that  the  decision  of  upholding  our  federal  system  might  safely  be 
left  to  the  uncoerced  suffrages  of  the  southern  people,  thus  declar- 
ing in  effect  that  he  would  subordinate  the  cause  of  emancipation  to 
the  preservation  of  nationality.  And  his  record  in  relation  to  this 
proposal  gave  added  weight  to  his  later  pleadings  for  the  liberation 
of  the  slaves. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I73 

Abraham  Lincoln  longed  for  the  hour  when  he  might  give  etit'ect 
to  the  prayer  of  slavery-hating  men,  but  he  knew  better  than  any 
other  when  the  hour  had  come.  The  ability  to  wait  is  not  the 
greatest  quality  of  a  statesman,  but  it  is  not  the  least.  Like  other 
human  qualities  which  have  their  roots  in  common  sense,  rather 
than  in  high  imagination,  it  is  often  underrated.  Lincoln  possessed 
it  eminently.  \\  hen  he  discerned  the  political  conditions  under 
which  the  Proclamation  of  Emancipation  would  be  most  eft'ective, 
he  found  a  massive  sentiment  at  his  command  which  Greeley  more 
than  anyone  else  had  summoned. 

In  Lincoln  the  statesman  prevailed  over  the  lawyer,  when  he 
refused  to  answer  the  theoretical  question  whether  the  states  in 
rebellion  had  put  themselves  outside  the  Union;  but  he  undertook 
to  treat  them  as  if  their  national  existence  w^as  never  extinguished, 
but  its  functions  were  simply  suspended.  Removal  of  the  ligature 
attached  by  the  act  of  secession  would  allow  the  national  life  to 
circulate  once  more  through  the  paralyzed  members.  He  had  shown 
a  disposition  to  recognize  the  desires  of  people  in  the  conquered 
states  to  reestablish  their  relations  with  the  federal  government ; 
but  what  was  more  impressive,  and  counted  for  more  a  few  years 
after  his  death,  was  the  spirit  of  brotherhood  which  kindled  all  his 
declarations  touching  the  South. 

Andrew  Johnson  was  not  ordained  to  the  office  of  pacificator. 
The  elements  of  his  own  character  forbade  him  the  part.  With  a 
tactlessness  on  which  his  opponents  could  safely  count,  and  a  lo\e 
of  combat  for  the  pure  joy  of  fighting,  he  must  have  quarreled  with 
a  congress  led  by  men  such  as  Wade  and  Stevens,  had  their  policy 
toward  the  southern  states  been  less  punitive,  and  the  South  taken  an 
attitude  less  challenging  to  the  champions  of  the  freedmen.  Nearly 
two  years  after  Johnson's  succession  to  the  presidency.  Congress 
divided  the  territory  of  the  Confederacy  into  districts,  over  which 
it  set  military  commanders,  clothed  with  powers  of  government  and 
reconstruction ;  and  under  their  direction  the  carpet-bag  establish- 
ments started  on  their  course.  But  a  truer  successor  to  Lincoln  had 
arisen,  not  in  a  place  of  executive  authority,  but  in  the  lists  of  public 
discussion.  On  the  second  morning  after  the  surrender  at  Appomat- 
tox, Horace  Greeley  said  in  the  Tribune :  "  We  plead  against  pas- 
sions certain  to  be  at  this  moment  fierce  and  intolerant;  but  on  our 
side  are  the  ages  and  the  voice  of  history."  Two  days  later  he 
reasoned :  "  Davis  did  not  devise  nor  instigate  the  rebellion ;  on  the 
contrary,  he  was  one  of  the  latest  and  most  reluctant  of  the  notables 
of  the  Cotton  States  to  renounce  definitively  the  Union.    His  prom- 


1/4  '^'HE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

inence  is  purely  official  and  representative ;  the  only  reason  for 
hanging  him  is  that  you  therein  condemn  and  stigmatize  more  per- 
sons than  in  hanging  anyone  else."  When,  ten  weeks  after  the 
passage  of  Thaddeus  Stevens's  military  reconstruction  law,  Greeley 
attached  his  name  to  Davis's  bail  bond,  his  act  was  a  more  emphatic 
declaration  than  he  could  otherwise  have  penned  of  his  belief  that 
the  time  for  the  reconciliation  of  states  had  come.  This  self-sacrific- 
ing deed  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  workers  for  peace  between 
brethren  long  divided.  From  this  position,  with  all  the  obloquy, 
all  the  antagonism,  which  it  attracted,  he  was  not  to  be  dislodged. 
Erratic,  disloyal  even,  he  seemed  to  many  who  were  incapable  of 
judging  him.  Let  us  be  sure  that  the  vilification  which  then  assailed 
the  old  abolitionist,  and  grew  to  greater  volume  in  the  closing  months 
of  his  life,  was  harder  to  bear  than  any  which  he  had  endured  as 
the  advocate  of  the  bondman,  because  it  proceeded  from  men  who 
once  followed  his  counsel.  But,  when  a  man  has  allied  himself 
with  an  inspiring  cause,  and  has  appealed  to  "  the  ages  and  the  voice 
of  history,"  he  is  armed  against  calumny,  can  look  with  pity  on  mis- 
understanding, and  will  account  his  sufifering  but  a  slight  contri- 
l)Ution  to  the  good  of  man. 

It  should  not  be  difficult  now  to  discuss  with  candor  the  Liberal 
Republican  movement,  of  which  Greeley  became  the  head,  by  his 
nomination  for  President.  Newspapers  which  opposed  the  move- 
ment were  satisfied  to  describe  the  Cincinnati  convention,  by  which 
his  name  was  offered  to  the  voters,  as  a  gathering  of  disappointed 
place-hunters,  Adullamites  with  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  griev- 
ances. But  the  truth  has  passed  into  history  that  the  defects  of 
President  Grant's  administration  had  repelled  from  his  support 
some  of  the  ablest  and  purest  men  in  the  Republican  party.  Heated 
partisans  could  believe,  perhaps,  that  Greeley's  political  behavior 
for  the  preceding  five  years  had  taken  its  character  from  disappoint- 
ments and  ambition.  But,  when  the  nomination  found  him,  it  sought 
the  man  who  most  embodied  the  conviction  which  made  the  Liberal 
Republican  revolt  permanently  significant.  If  the  movement  had 
been  chiefly  a  demand  for  improvement  in  the  civil  service,  a  choice 
might  have  been  made  that  would  have  presented  the  claims  of  that 
reform  more  sharply.  Had  the  free  traders  dictated  the  utterances 
of  the  convention  on  the  tariff,  Greeley  could  not  have  been  its  can- 
didate. A  different  selection  would  have  given  fitter  expression  to 
the  criticism  aimed  at  President  Grant,  on  account  of  the  character 
of  his  appointments.  But  no  other  citizen,  north  or  south,  could 
say  with  the  same  forcefulness  as  Greeley  said,  in  his  tour  through 


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THE    FIR-T    ISSUE    Ol-    THE    TRIBUNE 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  175 

the  country,  "  Let  hatred  and  bitterness,  let  contention  and  jealousy 
perish  forever.  Let  us  forget  that  we  have  fought.  Let  us  remem- 
ber only  that  we  have  made  peace."  The  adoption  of  that  sentiment 
was  the  feature  which  gives  the  Liberal  Republican  convention  of 
1872  a  place  among  great  national  conventions. 

The  issue  forced  upon  the  country  when  the  chief  apostle  of  recon- 
ciliation was  made  a  presidential  nominee,  encountered  the  usual 
fate  of  such  premature  undertakings.  But  the  sentiment  in  favor 
of  the  restoration  of  the  southern  people  to  their  full  status  in  the 
civil  framework  of  the  country  expressed  itself  with  vehemence 
four  years  later  in  the  candidacy  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden ;  and,  when  it 
seemed  to  have  sutl'ered  defeat  through  the  award  made  by  the 
Electoral  Commission,  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  gave  it  vital  operation 
by  promptly  withdrawing  United  States  troops  from  the  statehouses 
of  South  Carolina  and  Louisiana.  A  "  patriotic  attachment  to  the 
Union,"  the  language  of  President  Hayes  in  his  message  of  Decem- 
ber 1877,  quickly  replaced  in  southern  minds  the  sullen  resentments 
which  less  enlightened  policies  had  sown.  The  spirit  of  good  will, 
thus  sent  forth  on  its  mission,  bound  up  the  wounds  of  the  war,  and 
gradually  gave  to  our  country  the  national  unity  which  in  the  first 
century  of  its  independence  all  the  forces  of  political  and  military 
genius  had  failed  to  bestow. 

A     WONDERFUL  DECADE 

HORACE   GREELEY  — ORATOR,    EDITOR,    NATIONAL 
BENEFACTOR 

In  October  1856,  the  presidential  campaign  was  growing  warm; 
"  Buchanan  or  Fremont "  was  the  question.  Tidings  came  to  Fort 
Edward  that  Horace  Greeley  of  the  Tribune  was  to  pass  through 
the  village  and  could  tarry  for  an  hour,  giving  an  address  if  desired. 
The  young  men  sprang  to  the  front ;  the  only  public  hall  was  secured 
and  all  people  within  a  radius  of  two  miles  were  informed  by 
house-to-house  canvass,  "  every  member,"  of  the  opportunity  of  a 
lifetime  to  hear  the  great  champion  of  free  soil  and  free  men. 

At  four  o'clock  the  hall  was  thronged  to  its  capacity,  so  that  on 
the  arrival  of  the  speaker  it  was  with  difficulty  he  could  be  pushed 
and  pulled  to  the  platform.  Stumbling  awkwardly  to  a  seat,  there 
was  something  grotesque  in  his  aspect  for  a  moment,  and  a  bevy  of 
Democratic  young  ladies  giggled  quite  audibly,  to  the  indignation 
of  a  giant  constable,  the  only  policeman  in  town,  who  loudly  rebuked 
them  and  proposed  that  they  be  removed.  But  the  chivalrous  Gree- 
ley said,  "  No,  I  want  them  all  to  hear  me." 


176  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

The  appearance  of  Mr  Greeley  was  unique:  his  broad  shoulders 
clad  in  a  coat  too  large  for  him ;  a  limp,  unlaundered  turnover  collar; 
heavy  spectacles  on  nose,  with  a  head  of  a  giant,  bald  at  the  dome, 
and  abundant  uncombed  locks  on  either  side,  a  clean-shaven  face, 
luxuriant  whiskers  beneath  his  chin  and  cheeks,  a  smile  on  his  beam- 
ing features,  childlike  and  bland.  A  more  open  countenance  one 
never  saw,  a  countenance  on  which  candor  and  sincerity  were  most 
legibly  stamped.  On  looking  at  him  you  thought  of  a  full,  round 
harvest  moon. 

If  on  mounting  his  Pegasus  we  smiled  at  his  awkwardness,  when 
he  was  in  saddle  we  at  once  sat  up  and  took  notice,  and  as  he  rode 
on  with  a  pace  more  and  more  vigorous,  finally  using  whip  and  spur 
and  making  a  terrific  cavalry  charge,  we  looked,  listened,  and  won- 
dered, our  only  fear  that  he  would  make  an  end.  He  began  with 
slowly  spoken  sentences,  in  a  somewhat  drawling  manner,  and  not 
without  nasal  twang,  suggestive  of  the  traditional  Yankee  backwoods 
orator  (known  so  well  to  literature,  but  rarely  seen  in  real  life). 
Very  shortly,  however,  he  quickened  his  rate  of  utterance  and  put 
a  heavier  weight  on  his  emphasis.  Presently  we  gasped  at  a  glancing 
epigram  in  which  was  lodged  a  catapult  of  truth. 

We  were  now  made  aware  that  it  was  a  mighty  man  we  were 
hearing.  The  platform  which  he  commended  was  "  progressive  " 
but  "  sane."  "  No  more  slave  states,"  but  the  compromises  of  a 
Constitution  must  be  respected.  The  Union  must  be  preserved. 
For  the  hot-headed  political  abolitionists,  Garrison  and  Phillips,  he 
had  only  tingling  sarcasms.  They  were  pestilential  disturbers.  The 
American  people  were  patriotic  enough  and  wise  enough  to  meet 
new  problems  as  they  should  arise,  and  in  God's  own  good  time, 
emancipation  could  come  in  a  legal,  orderlv,  and  constitutional  man- 
ner. We  had  all  been  involved  in  the  introduction  of  slavery  into 
the  nation,  and  we  should  be  willing  to  bear  our  part  in  devising  and 
carrying  out  a  constitutional  policy  for  its  elimination.  Meanwhile 
let  all  good  men  stand  together. 

Mr  Greeley's  appeal  to  young  men  to  cast  their  first  vote  for  free 
soil  and  free  men  was  luminous,  forcible,  eloquent  and  irresistible. 
So  thought  the  writer,  who.  though  a  hereditary  and  zealous  Demo- 
crat, then  and  there  decided  to  cast  his  vote  for  Fremont  and  Day- 
ton.— "A  Reminiscent  Book,"  by  Joseph  E.  King  D.  D.,  pages 
65-67. 


NEWSPAPER  COMMENT 


NEWSPAPER   COMMENT 

Horace   Greeley 

It  is  the  fashion  of  a  certain  school  of  writers  to  sneer  at  Horace 
Cireeley  as  one  of  the  diminisliing  figures  of  American  history.  His 
weaknesses  and  his  eccentricities  lend  themselves  readily  to  ridicule. 
His  inconsistencies  were  glaring  and  his  yearning  for  office  was 
pitiful.    Yet  a  noble  mind  is  not  to  he  measured  by  its  infirmities. 

Tomorrow  is  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  Greeley's  birth, 
and  no  tribute  that  will  be  paid  to  his  memory  is  likely  to  over- 
estimate either  his  influence  in  one  of  the  two  critical  periods  of 
the  Republic  or  his  disinterested  service  to  human  freedom.  For 
thirty-five  years  Horace  Greeley  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
force  that  this  country  ever  knew  except  Thomas  Jefiferson. 

They  call  Clay  the  father  of  the  protective  system,  but  the  real 
father  was  Greeley,  who,  through  the  columns  of  the  New  York 
Tribune,  converted  the  farmers  to  the  doctrine  and  has  kept  them 
in  line  ever  since.  The  present  protective  policy  of  the  Republican 
party  is  still  sustained  at  the  polls  by  the  arguments  that  Horace 
Greeley  hammered  into  the  minds  of  the  agricultural  pojudation 
more  than  sixty  years  ago. 

Lincoln  won  immortality  as  the  emancipator  of  the  slave,  but  it 
was  Greeley  who  nominated  Lincoln  for  President,  and  Cireeley 's 
long  fight  against  the  slave  power  was  the  most  important  element 
in  Lincoln's  election.  The  New  England  abolitionists  were  a  small 
factor  in  that  contest  compared  with  the  editor  of  the  Tribune. 

It  is  true  that  when  the  irrepressible  conflict  began,  Greeley  was 
opposed  to  coercing  the  seceding  states ;  but  this  does  not  prove 
that  Greeley  was  wholly  wrong.  So  impartial  an  historian  as  James 
Rryce  has  expressed  the  opinion  that  a  higher  statesmanship  might 
have  averted  the  Civil  War,  and  it  was  not  to  Greeley's  discredit 
that  he  had  no  desire  to  see  the  Nation  carelessly  plunged  into  the 
most  terrible  conflict  of  modern  history. 

Much  has  been  made  of  Greeley's  controversy  with  Lincoln,  in 
which  Greeley  was  unquestionably  in  the  wrong;  but  it  was  an 
honest  dift'erence  of  opinion  on  both  sides.  Greeley  was  tempera- 
mentally incapable  of  agreeing  with  anybody  for  long,  and  Lincoln 
was  the  last  man  in  the  world  to  claim  for  himself  the  gift  of 
infallibility.  The  fact  is  worth  recording  in  this  connection  that 
perhaps  the  fairest,  ablest  and  most  just  estimate  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  that  has  ever  been  written  came  from  the  pen  of  Horace 
Greeley. 

179 


I<So  THE    IJNIVEKSITY    OK    THE    STATE    OE    NEW    YORK 

Greeley's  reputation  would  rest  on  a  higher  plane  if  he  had  never 
accepted  the  Democratic  nomination  for  l^resident  in  1872.  He 
was  a  greater  man  as  an  editor  than  as  a  presidential  candidate. 
Botli  he  and  the  Democratic  ])arty  were  right  on  the  reconstruction 
question,  hut  they  were  right  at  the  wrong  time,  and  Greeley  was 
decidedly  not  the  man  to  lead  the  campaign  against  Grant's  admin- 
istration. His  nomination  weakened  his  influence.  He  had  to 
turn  his  l)ack  on  all  his  economic  principles,  on  his  own  record,  on 
his  former  political  associates,  and  he  was  disastrously  heaten, 
although  he  polled  100,000  more  votes  than  Seymour  received  in 
1868.  As  Jilaine  once  said,  Greeley  inore  th.an  any  other  man  of 
his  day  had  the  quality  of  being  able  to  call  out  the  full  strength 
of  the  opposition. 

Greeley's  real  fame  must  rest  in  the  files  of  the  New  York 
Tribune.  Few  Americans  have  reared  loftier  monuments  to  their 
own  genius  and  power  than  did  this  schoolmaster  of  republican 
institutions,  or  monuments  upon  which  can  be  found  fewer  stains. — 
The  New  York  World,  February  2,  iqii. 


Horace   Greeley 

Americanism  intense,  inclusive,  even  exuberant,  was  expressed 
in  Mr  Greeley's  career  from  beginning  to  end ;  and  yet,  it  would 
not  be  altogether  just  to  omit  heredity,  environment  and  other 
influences  from  those  which  shaped  the  life  and  made  the  man. 
To  hold  him  up  complete  as  an  example  to  youth  would  be  both 
idle  and  unwise.  Yet  there  was  in  his  life  so  much  that  was  sound, 
pure  and  wholesome,  a  sincerity  and  a  genuineness,  that  its  study 
may  well  be  commended  as  not  only  one  of  the  most  interesting. 
but  one  of  the  most  instructive  and  stimulating.  Rased  upon  the 
substantial  ])rinciples  of  self-respect  and  self-support,  of  industry, 
economy  integrity,  Mr  Greeley  is  and  always  will  be  a  livmg 
example  for  every  aspiring  and  earnest  young  American,  while  his 
outbursts  in  politics,  his  excursions  in  sociology  and  theology,  were 
but  the  genuine  expressions  of  an  honest  and  sympathetic  nature, 
intensely  devoted  to  the  j^rinciples  of  human  liberty  and  equality 
as  he  understood  them  and  desirous  to  aid  l)y  all  his  power  in  their 
universal  acceptance  and  establishment. 

Possibly  the  three  "  slogans,"  as  we  would  call  them  today,  bv 
which  Mr  (ireeley's  fame  and  influence  were  most  widely  extended, 
would  give  a  better  idea  of  the  character  and  mentality  of  the  man 
than  anv  critical  or  ])rofound  analysis.     "  Go  West,  young  man," 


SENATOR    GEORGE    A.    SLATER 

Who  as  Assemblyman  of  the  4th  assembly  district 
of  Westchester  county,  introduced  bill  provid- 
ing for  appropriation  "for  Greeley  monument  at 
Chappaqua 

Note:  Governor  John  A.  Dix  failed  to  sign  the  bill,  so  mon- 
ument was  ere:ted  by  private  subscription 


HORACE    GREELEV    MEMORIAL  l8l 

condensed  years  of  hard  labor,  of  the  strictest  economy,  ahnost 
penury,  on  New  Hampshire  rocks  and  in  Vermont  clearings  and 
printing  offices,  and  was  infused  with  wisdom  from  the  travels  and 
larger  views  of  adult  years,  when  life  had  expanded  and  absorbed 
the  meaning  of  the  great  area  from  wdiich  the  young  New  Englander 
had  been  excluded.  "  On  to  Richmond  "'  was  the  irrepressible  out- 
burst of  indignant  patriotism  and  loyalty,  which  would  not  be 
smothered  by  political  complications,  impatient  of  personal  am- 
bition and  jealousies  in  the  field,  and  looking  only  for  the  immediate 
results,  the  end  of  the  war  and  the  vindication  of  the  Union  in 
the  shortest  possible  time.  "  The  way  to  resume  is  to  resume," 
simply  expressed  in  a  sentence  like  impatience  of  devious  and 
temporizing  politicians  in  the  name  of  statesmanship ;  that  sturdy 
and  earnest  personal  integrity,  which  paid  every  bill,  no  matter  at 
what  sacrifice ;  and  that  inflexible  determination  to  be  honest  with 
all  men,  and  that  simple-nfindedness  which  made  good  the  spirit  as 
well  as  the  letter  of  every  promise. 

To  speak  of  Mr  Greeley  as  a  journalist,  in  terms  of  the  present, 
would  be  difficult.  Times  have  changed  and  we  are  changed  with 
them;  and,  the  journalism  of  today,  whatever  its  merits  or  demerits, 
has  small  place,  if  any,  for  men  of  the  Horace  Greeley  type  and 
methods.  No  more  honorable  chapters  in  American  journalism 
exist  than  those  of  the  Tribune  in  its  early  palmy  days  under  Mr 
Greeley  and  his  associates,  Raymond,  Ripley,  Dana,  Margaret 
Fuller,  Curtis  and  the  others,  whose  names  have  become  classic ; 
nor  in  its  later  renaissance,  under  the  present  Ambassador  to  Great 
Britain,  whose  staft',  with  Hay,  Bromley.  Congdon,  Brooks,  Winter 
and  those  with  them,  was  the  envy  and  the  despair  of  all  rivals. 
But  those  days  and  men  are  gone,  and  we  are  facing  new  conditions 
and  new  demands.  That  Mr  Greeley  was  able  to  lay  deep  and 
permanent  the  intellectual  and  political  foundations  of  the  great 
institution  over  whose  corner  stone  he  sits  in  bronze,  is  the  achieve- 
ment which  will  perpetuate  his  memory  and  long  vitalize  it  in  the 
hearts  and  the  honor  of  his  countrymen. —  The  Brooklyn  Standard 
Union,  January  2g,  iqii. 


He  of  the  prophets 

Born  among  the  lowly,  reared  with  adversity  dogging  his  youth- 
ful steps,  growing  into  the  zenith  of  his  power  through  his  mighty 
battle  for  justice,  right  and  truth,  and  then  to  die  when  he  had 
tliought  to  spend  his  declining  years  among  those  he  had  inspired 


l82  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

to  build  their  homes  liere,  Horace  Greeley's  centenary  comes  to  the 
people  of  Weld  county  pregnant  with  meaning. 

When  the  groan  and  shock  of  war  had  brought  liberation  of  the 
slaves,  probably  the  dearest  wish  of  Greeley,  his  prophetic  eye  saw 
the  expansion  and  development  that  must  follow  the  lean  years 
when  brother  fought  brother.  Me  had  met  the  West  and  loved  it. 
He  saw  the  glowing  future  possible  for  the  wide  ranges  that  lay 
waiting.  He  sounded  the  clarion  call  for  those  who  dared  to  brave 
the  untried. 

No  dominion  of  sect  or  creed  confined  his  efiforts.  His  was  the 
zeal  for  the  greater  things  than  the  exposition  of  his  individual 
ideas.  He  pointed  the  way  for  all  humanity  to  the  new  land  where 
he  foresaw  a  victory  for  the  arts  of  peace. 

And  now,  we  of  a  fair  city  in  the  midst  of  the  fertile  plain-, 
may  well  do  him  honor  and  hail  him  as  the  blessed  prophet  of  ♦he 
West. —  The  Greeley  Daily  Tribune,  February  2,  ipii. 


Other  judgments 

The  few  famous  journalists  are  not  much  more  than  a  name,  the 
"  dream  of  a  shallow."  Even  the  actor  leaves,  perhaps,  a  more 
tangible  inheritance.  Besides,  a  "  great  journalist's  "  reputation  is 
more  or  less  pilfered  from  obscurer  or  totally  obscure  men  who 
cooperated  in  his  work,  a  work  essentially  collective  and  impersonal, 
save  in  the  apprehension  of  the  dear  public  that  dearly  loves  a 
"  hero  "  and  worships  a  cockade.  If  the  old  white  hat  and  white 
coat  of  Horace  Greeley  are  still  visible,  if  he  survives  in  some  sense 
while  a  more  accomplished  journalist  such  as  Henry  J.  Raymond 
is  hardly  a  name,  this  posthumous  good  fortune  is  due  to  Mr 
Greeley's  personal  incursions  into  politics,  to  his  part  in  the  anti- 
slavery  legend,  to  the  hold  that  he  long  had  upon  the  farmers  and 
tlie  school  teachers,  not  least  perhaps  to  the  homeliness,  the  vigor, 
the  salient  peculiarities  of  the  man.  Gone  are  the  amenities  of 
Eatanswill,  the  old  fierceness  of  newspaper  epithet  and  controversy, 
that  ancient  fashion  of  journalism  which  was  illustrated  by  the 
author  of  "  Thanatopsis  "  and  editor  of  the  Evening  Post  when  he 
beat  a  brother  editor  with  a  cowskin  in  front  of  Philip  Hone's  house 
at  Park  place  and  Broadway,  or  by  James  W'atson  Webb's  en- 
counters with  the  elder  Bennett  and  with  DutT  Green.  The  "  little 
villain  "  and  "  you  lie,  you  villain,  you  lie  "  style  of  journalism  is  now 
practised  only  by  an  illustrious  amateur 


lldkAcl-:    CREKLKV    MK.MOKIAL  183 

Mr  Greeley  called  about  him  many  men  of  various  distinction, 
but  his  own  chief  and  singular  dislitiction  nuist  remain  unknown 
to  the  moderns  or  be  taken  on  trust,  lie  had  a  way  of  writing  of 
his  own  —  clear,  straightforward,  largely  Saxon,  lit  up  sometimes 
by  passion,  sometimes  by  humor,  recalling,  if  anybody,  Franklin 
and  Cobbett.  If  not  a  great  journalist,  he  was  a  great  editorial 
writer.  The  young  gentlemen  from  whom  of  all  horned  cattle  he 
mo.st  prayed  to  be  delivered  can  find  few  better  models  of  style. — 
New  York  Sun,  February  5,  loi i. 


Horace  Greeley,  the  centenary  of  whose  birth  occurs  today,  was 
a  giant  in  American  journalism,  and  his  type  is  practically  as  extinct 
as  that  of  the  dinosaurus  whose  fossil  skeleton  was  dug  out  the 
other  day  from  the  Palisades.  His  was,  above  all  else,  political 
journalism.  .  .  .  He  was  deeply  and  sincerely  concerned  for  the 
advancement  of  the  mass  of  the  people,  and  especially  the  great 
class,  born  to  privation,  toil  and  difficulty,  from  which  he  sprang. 
He  had  boundless  hope  for  their  betterment,  and  if  he  sometimes 
embraced  too  promptly  and  warmly  schemes  that  promised  its 
attainment,  his  sympathies  never  cooled  or  his  energies  tired  in 
tlieir  behalf.  He  was  aggressive  and  enjoyed  conflict.  His  capacity 
for  work  had  no  limit,  or  his  love  for  it.     .     .     . 

Mr  Greeley's  influence  upon  the  life  of  his  country  in  the  three 
decades  following  the  founding  of  the  Tribune  was  very  great,  and 
on  the  whole  it  was  beneficent.  In  matters  of  public  policy  he  aided 
as  much  as  any  other  one  man  in  rallying  the  forces  of  public 
opinion.  Of  course  the  greatest  of  these  was  slavery,  and  as  to 
that  his  service  was  unquestionably  more  effective  than  that  of  any 
other  journalist.  Curiously  enough,  his  surviving  reputation  with 
regard  to  slavery  is  that  of  a  radical  and  an  extremist.  In  reality, 
he  was  in  the  main  a  sagacious,  temperate,  long-headed,  and  patriotic 
opponent  of  the  extension  of  slavery.  He  was  not  an  abolitionist 
until  the  slave  power  drew  the  sword  against  the  Union.  He 
ardently  defended  freedom  of  speech  for  the  abolitionists,  as  for 
all  others.  .  .  .  After  the  war  he  labored  with  all  his  might  for 
amnesty  and  impartial  suffrage  —  a  dream  undoubtedly,  but  the 
beautiful  dream  of  a  generous  soul.  When  he  signed  the  bail  bond 
of  Jefferson  Davis,  he  did  a  noble  act  which  cost  him  dear,  as  he  knew 
it  would.  Save  that  of  Lincoln,  no  name  should  stand  higher  on 
the  roll  of  the  true  friends  of  the  South  living  in  the  North  in  those 
troubled  times. —  Neiv  York  Times,  February  5,  igii. 


184  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Tliere  is  one  comnninity  that  is  celebrating  witli  more  than  per- 
functory enthusiasm  today  the  Horace  Greeley  centenary,  and  that 
is  the  northern  Colorado  city  which  hears  his  name  and  in  which 
he  felt  a  deep  interest  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life.  The 
"  Cireeley  colony  "  was  mainly  composed  of  New  England  people 
and  was  the  first  irrigated  territory  in  the  state.  Its  settlers  were 
imbued  with  idealistic  principles.  Their  plan  of  progress  was  to 
some  extent  cooperative.  It  was  to  encourage  churches  and  schools 
and  get  along  without  saloons  and  it  has  lived  up  to  its  prospectus 
better  than  most  new  settlements.  Mr  Greeley  visited  the  town  in 
1870  and  in  a  speech  to  the  people  in  front  of  the  Greeley  Tribune 
expressed  some  disappointment  that  the  place  had  not  grown  faster. 
But,  says  a  correspondent  of  the  Springfield  Republican,  if  he  could 
look  upon  the  colony  after  forty-one  years,  "  he  would  see  a  broad 
territory  dotted  with  elegant  and  happy  homes,  and  irrigated  lands 
sending  out  tens  of  thousands  of  carloads  of  potatoes,  flour,  wheat, 
alfalfa,  sugar,  canned  goods  and  live  stock,  and  a  city  of  homes 
numbering  ten  thousand  prosperous  people."  Six  days  before  his 
death  Mr  Greeley  wrote  to  the  founder  of  the  colony:  "  I  presume 
you  have  already  drawn  upon  me  for  the  thousand  dollars  to  buy 
land.  If  you  have  not,  please  do  so  at  once.  I  have  not  much 
money  and  probably  never  shall  have,  but  I  believe  in  this  colony 
and  consider  it  a  good  investment  for  my  children." — Boston  Even- 
ing Transcript,  February  5,  igii. 


The  function  of  Greeley  in  this  great  development  of  history 
was  not  to  stamp  his  impress  upon  policies,  or  to  build  up  a  clearly 
marked  following  on  definite  lines,  but  to  awaken  in  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  millions  of  his  countrymen  the  sentiment  of  abhorrence 
for  slavery  and  the  determination  some  way  or  other  to  bring  it  to 
an  end.  In  the  spread  of  this  gospel  through  the  agency  of  every- 
day journalism  he  was  beyond  all  comparison  the  greatest  force. 
Xor  should  it  be  imagined  that,  in  saying  this,  one  is  paying  tribute 
merely  to  the  constancy  of  his  advocacy.  To  hammer  away  at  one 
subject  year  in  and  year  out,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  is  a  task 
of  no  special  difficulty;  it  requires  neither  peculiar  ability  nor 
unusual  courage.  What  Greeley  did  was  to  make  his  Tribune 
editorials  on  slavery  fresh  and  interesting  and  live,  to  say  the  same 
thing  a  thousand  times  without  fatiguing  his  readers.  That  he  was 
able  to  do  this  was  due  partly  to  his  vigorous  nature  and  his  extraor- 
dinary command  of  racy  and  energetic  English ;  but  it  must  also 


sENAlOk    JAMK-^    U.    MlCLELLAND 

Of  the  thirteenth  Senate  district  1911-14,  who 
introduced  bill  providing  for  this  report  —  in 
Senate  191 3 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  185 

in  great  measure  be  ascribed  to  the  very  fact  that  his  interest  in  a 
great  range  of  other  subjects  was  almost  as  keen  as  in  the  dominant 
political  issue  that  he  represented. —  New  York  Evening  Post, 
February  5,  IQII. 


The  fame  of  Horace  Greeley  rests  enduringly  on  the  great  work 
he  did  as  editor  of  the  New  York  Tribune ;  in  calling  the  Republican 
party  into  being  and  endowing  it  with  issues  of  vital  power  and 
popular  appeal ;  in  giving  the  antislavery  cause  practical  direction, 
arguments  and  moral  and  physical  momentum.  He  was  a  "  pro- 
gressive "  in  that  his  mind  was  open  to  the  impress  of  new  ideas. 
With  all  his  weaknesses  he  was  an  elemental  force.  In  the  progress 
of  the  American  people  he  bore  a  high,  compelling  part. —  New 
York  Evening  Mail,  February  s,  IQH- 


He  was  not  a  copy  or  a  representative  of  a  group.  He  was  an 
original,  and  the  definiteness  of  his  peculiarities  was  a  never  failing 
source  of  gossip  and  discussion.  .  .  .  He  was  a  unique  character 
who  strayed  into  the  newspaper-making  business,  and  he  ha4  the 
courage  to  be  himself.  If  a  man  should  appear  with  a  like  com- 
bination of  gifts,-  he  would  in  all  likelihood  create  as  great  a  stir 
and  exercise  as  large  an  influence. —  New  York  Globe.  February  5. 
igii. 


CHARACTERISTIC  UTTERANCES 
BY  HORACE  GREELEY 


CHARACTERISTIC  UTTERANCES  BY  HORACE 

GREELEY 

LETTERS,    EDITORIALS,    ESSAYS    AND    SPEECHES 


AN   OPEN   LETTER  TO  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN 
(Concluding  portion) 


The  Prayer  of  Twenty  Millions 
On  the  face  of  this  wide  earth,  Mr  President,  there  is  not  one 
disinterested,  determined,  intelligent  champion  of  the  Union  cause 
who  does  not  feel  that  all  attempts  to  put  down  the  rehellion,  and 
at  the  same  time  uphold  its  inciting  cause,  are  preposterous  and 
futile  —  that  the  rebellion,  if  crushed  out  tomorrow,  would  be  re- 
newed within  a  year  if  slavery  were  left  in  full  vigor  —  that  army 
officers  who  remain  to  this  day  devoted  to  slavery  can  at  best  be 
but  half-way  loyal  to  the  Union  —  and  that  every  hour  of  deference 
to  slavery  is  an  hour  of  added  and  deepened  peril  to  the  Union.  I 
appeal  to  the  testimony  of  your  embassadors  in  Europe.  It  is 
freely  at  your  service,  not  at  mine.  Ask  them  to  tell  you  candidly 
whether  the  seeming  subserviency  of  your  policy  to  the  slave- 
holding,  slavery-upholding  interest,  is  not  the  perplexity,  the  despair 
of  statesmen  of  all  parties,  and  be  admonished  by  the  general 
answer ! 

I  close  as  I  began  with  the  statement  that  what  an  immense 
majority  of  the  loyal  millions  of  your  countrymen  require  of  you 
is  a  frank,  declared,  unqualified,  ungrudging  execution  of  the  laws 
of  the  land,  more  especially  of  the  confiscation  act.  That  act  gives 
freedom  to  the  slaves  of  rebels  coming  within  our  lines,  or  whom 
those  lines  may  at  any  time  inclose  —  we  ask  you  to  render  it  due 
obedience  by  publicly  requiring  all  your  subordinates  to  recognize 
and  obey  it.  The  rebels  are  everywhere  using  the  late  antinegro 
riots  in  the  North,  as  they  have  long  used  your  officers'  treatment  of 
negroes  in  the  South,  to  convince  the  slaves  that  they  have  nothing 
to  hope  from  a  Union  success  —  that  we  mean  in  that  case  to  sell 
them  into  a  bitterer  bondage  to  defray  the  cost  of  the  war.  Let  them 
impress  this  as  a  truth  on  the  great  mass  of  their  ignorant  and 
credulous  bondmen,  and  the  Union  will  never  be  restored — never. 
We  can  not  conquer  ten  millions  of  people  united  in  solid  phalanx 
against  us,  powerfully  aided  by  northern  sympathizers  and  European 
allies.  We  must  have  scouts,  guides,  spies,  cooks,  teamsters,  diggers 
and  choppers  from  the  blacks  of  the  South,  whether  we  allow  them 


ICp  TIIK    UNINKKSITV    OF    TIlK    STATK    OV    NEW    YORK 

to  tight  for  us  or  not,  or  we  shall  be  baffled  and  repelled.  As  one 
of  the  millions  who  would  gladly  have  avoided  this  struggle  at  any 
sacrifice  but  that  of  principle  and  honor,  but  who  now  feel  that  the 
triumph  of  the  Union  is  indispensable  not  only  to  the  existence  of 
our  countrv  but  to  the  well-being  of  mankind,  i  entreat  you  to 
render  a  hearty  and  unecjuivoCal  obedience  to  the  law  of  the  land. 

Yours 

IIoRAti-:  (jki:i:li;v 
New  York,  .luf/usf  19,  1862 

—  The  New  York  Trihiiiic,  .litcjiist  20,  1S62. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  ANSWER 
Executive  Mansion,  Ji'ashiiigton,  August  22,  1862 
h'ou.  Horace  Greeley: 

Di:ar  Sir:  1  have  just  read  yours  of  the  19th.  addressed  to 
myself  through  the  New  York  Tribune.  If  there  be  in  it  any  state- 
ments or  assumptions  of  fact  which  T  may  know  to  be  erroneous, 
I  do  not  now  and  here  controvert  them.  If  there  be  in  it  any 
inferences  which  I  may  believe  to  be  falsely  drawai,  I  do  not  now 
and  here  argue  against  them.  If  tiiere  be  perceptible  in  it  an 
impatient  and  dictatorial  tone,  I  waive  it  in  deference  to  an  old 
friend,  whose  heart  I  have  always  supposed  to  be  right. 

As  to  the  policy  I  "  seem  to  be  pursuing,"  as  you  say,  I  have  not 
meant  to  leave  any  one  in  doubt. 

I  would  save  the  Union.  I  would  save  it  the  shortest  way  under 
the  Constitution.  The  sooner  the  national  authority  can  be  restored, 
the  nearer  the  Union  will  be  "  the  Union  as  it  was."  If  there  be 
those  who  would  not  save  the  Union  unless  they  could  at  the  same 
time  sa-c'c  slavery,  I  do  not  agree  with  them.  If  there  be  those  who 
would  not  save  the  Union  unless  they  could  at  the  same  time  destroy 
slavery,  I  do  not  agree  with  them.  My  paramount  object  in  this 
struggle  is  to  save  the  Union,  and  is  not  either  to  save  or  destroy 
slavery.  If  I  could  save  the  Union  without  freeing  any  slave  I 
would  do  it;  and  if  I  could  save  it  by  freeing  all  the  slaves,  I  would 
do  it;  and  if  I  could  do  it  by  freeing  some  and  leaving  others  alone, 
I  would  also  do  that.  What  I  do  about  slavery  and  the  colored 
race  I  do  because  I  believe  it  helps  to  save  this  Union ;  and  what  I 
forbear,  I  forbear  because  I  do  not  believe  it  would  help  to  save 
the  Union.  I  shall  do  less  whenever  I  shall  believe  what  I  am  doing 
hurts  the  cause,  and  I  shall  do  more  whenever  I  shall  believe  doing 
more  will  help  the  catvse.     I  shall  try  to  correct  errors  when  shown 


I^t-J.. 


^     U^^t     /Le^^  c.^^^.     ^.^i   ,/.j>,^      .    ' 

a^^.r>^^    ^-  ^^   ^-^    .^r^^ 


THE   LINCOLN    PEACE   LETTER 
1864 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I9I 

to  be  errors ;  and  I  shall  adopt  new  views  so  fast  as  they  shall 
appear  to  be  true  views.  I  have  here  stated  my  purpose  according 
to  my  view  of  official  duty,  and  I  intend  no  modifications  of  my 
oft-expressed  personal  wish  that  all  men,  everywhere,  could  be  free. 

Yours 

A.  Lincoln 

LETTER  TO  THE  UNION  LEAGUE  CLUB 
By  these  presents,  Greeting! 

To  Messrs.  Geo.  W.  Blunt,  John  A.  Kennedy,  John  0.  Stone, 
Stephen  JJyatt,  and  30  others,  members  of  the  Union  League 
Club. 

Gentlemen:  I  was  favored,  on  the  i6th  inst.,  by  an  official 
note  from  our  evercourteous  president,  John  Jay.  notifying  me  that 
a  requisition  had  been  presented  to  him  for  "  a  special  meeting  of 
the  club,  at  an  early  day,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration 
the  conduct  of  Horace  Greeley,  a  member  of  the  club,  who  has 
become  a  bondsman  for  Jefferson  Davis,  late  chief  officer  of  the 
rebel  government."     Mr  Jay  continues: 

"  As  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  signers,  or  some  of  them, 
disapprove  of  the  conduct  which  they  propose  the  club  shall  con- 
sider, it  is  clearly  due,  both  to  the  club  and  to  yourself,  that  you 
should  have  the  opportunity  of  being  heard  on  the  subject;  I  beg, 
therefore,  to  ask  on  what  evening  it  will  be  convenient  for  you  that 
I  call  the  meeting,"  &c.,  &c.     .     .     . 

Gentlemen,  I  shall  not  attend  your  meeting  this  evening.  I  have 
an  engagement  out  of  town  and  shall  keep  it.  I  do  not  recognize 
you  as  capable  of  judging,  or  even  fully  apprehending  me.  You 
evidently  regard  me  as  a  weak  sentimentalist,  misled  by  a  maudlin 
philosophy.  I  arraign  you  as  narrow-minded  blockheads,  who 
would  like  to  be  useful  to  a  great  and  good  cause,  but  don't  know 
how.  Your  attempt  to  base  a  great,  enduring  party  on  the  hate 
and  wrath  necessarily  engendered  by  a  bloody  Civil  War,  is  as 
though  you  should  plant  a  colony  on  an  iceberg  which  had  somehow 
drifted  into  a  tropical  ocean.  I  tell  you  here  that,  out  of  a  life 
earnestly  devoted  to  the  good  of  human  kind,  your  children  will 
select  my  going  to  Richmond  and  signing  that  bail  bond  as  the 
wisest  act,  and  will  feel  that  it  did  more  for  freedom  and  humanity 
than  all  of  you  were  competent  to  do,  though  you  had  lived  to  the 
age  of  Methuselah. 

I  ask  nothing  of  you,  then,  but  that  you  proceed  to  your  end 


192  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

by  a  direct,  frank,  nuinly  way.  Don't  sidle  off  into  a  mild  resolution 
of  censure,  but  move  the  expulsion  which  you  purposed,  and  which 
I  deserve  if  I  deserve  any  reproach  whatever.  All  I  care  for  is, 
that  you  make  this  a  square,  stand-up  fight,  and  record  your  judg- 
ment l)y  yeas  and  nays.  I  care  not  how  few  vote  with  me,  nor  how 
many  vote  against  me;  for  I  know  that  the  latter  will  repent  it  in 
dust  and  ashes  before  three  years  have  passed.  Understand,  once 
for  all,  that  I  dare  you  and  defy  you,  and  that  I  propose  to  fight  it 
out  on  the  line  that  I  have  held  from  the  day  of  Lee's  surrender. 
So  long  as  any  man  was  seeking  to  overthrow  our  Government,  he 
was  my  enemy;  from  the  hour  in  which  he  laid  down  his  arms,  he 
was  my  formerly  erring  countryinan.  So  long  as  any  is  at  heart 
opposed  to  the  national  unity,  the  Federal  authority,  or  to  that 
assertion  of  the  equal  rights  of  all  men  which  has  become  prac- 
tically identified  with  loyalty  and  nationality,  I  shall  do  my  best 
to  deprive  him  of  power;  but,  whenever  he  ceases  to  be  thus.  1 
demand  his  restoration  to  all  the  privileges  of  American  citizenship. 
I  give  you  fair  notice  that  I  shall  urge  the  reenfranchisement  of 
those  now  proscribed  for  rebellion  so  soon  as  I  shall  feel  confident 
that  this  course  is  consistent  with  the  freedom  of  the  blacks  and 
the  unity  of  the  Republic,  and  that  I  shall  demand  a  recall  of  all 
now  in  exile  only  for  participating  in  the  rebellion,  whenever  the 
country  shall  have  been  so  thoroughly  pacified  that  its  safety  will 
not  thereby  be  endangered.  And  so,  gentlemen,  hoping  that  you 
will  henceforth  comprehend  me  somewhat  better  than  you  have 
done,  I  remain 

Yours 
Horace  Greeley^ 
New  York,  May  2^,  186/ 

MARRIAGE  AND   DR'ORCE 

To  the  1 1 0)1.  Robert  Dale  0:ce)i,  of  Indiana: 

Dear  Sir  :  In  my  former  letter,  I  asserted,  and  I  think  proved, 
that 

I  The  established,  express,  unequivocal  dictionary  meaning  of 
marriage  is  union  for  life.  Whether  any  other  sort  of  union  of 
man  and  woman  be  or  be  not  more  rational,  more  beneficent,  more 


1  For  this  out-from-the-shoulder  blow  the  members  of  the  Union  League 
Club  had  no  competent  defense.  The  meeting  took  place,  but  amounted  to 
nothing,  and  Greeley  heard  no  more  from  the  club  about  his  attitude  as  a 
southern  sympathizer.     [J.  A.  H.] 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  I93 

moral,  more  Christian,  than  this,  it  is  certain  that  this  is  marriage, 
and  that  that  other  is  something  else. 

2  That  this  is  what  we  who  are  legally  married  —  at  all  events, 
if  married  by  the  ministers  of  any  Christian  denomination  —  uni- 
formly covenant  to  do.  I  distinctly  remember  that  my  marriage 
covenant  was  "  for  better,  for  worse,"  and  "  until  death  do  part." 
1  presume  yours  was  the  same. 

3  That  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  in  opposition  to  the  ideas  and  usages 
current  in  his  time,  alike  among  Jews  and  Gentiles,  expressly 
declared  adultery  to  be  the  only  valid  reason  for  dissolving  a 
marriage. 

4  That  the  nature  and  inherent  reason  of  marriage  inexorably 
demands  that  it  be  indissoluble  except  for  that  one  crime  which 
destroys  its  essential  condition.  In  other  words,  no  marriage  can 
be  innocently  dissolved;  but  the  husband  or  wife  may  be  released 
from  the  engagement  upon  proof  of  the  utter  and  flagrant  violation 
of  its  essential  condition  by  the  other  party. 

And  now,  allow  me  to  say  that  I  do  not  see  that  your  second 
letter  successfully  assails  any  of  these  positions.  You  do  not,  and 
can  not,  deny  that  our  standard  dictionaries  define  marriage  as  I 
do,  and  deny  the  name  to  any  temporary  arrangement ;  you  do  not 
deny  that  I  have  truly  stated  Christ's  doctrine  on  the  subject 
(whereof  the  Christian  ceremonial  of  marriage,  whether  in  the 
Catholic  or  Protestant  churches,  is  a  standing  evidence)  ;  and  I  am 
willing  to  let  your  criticism  on  Christ's  statement  pass  without  com- 
ment. So  with  regard  to  Moses :  I  am  content  to  leave  Moses's 
law  of  divorce  to  the  brief  but  pungent  commentary  of  Jesus,  and 
his  unquestionably  correct  averment  that  "  from  the  beginning,  it 
was  not  so." 

But  you  say  that,  if  my  position  is  sound,  I  make  "  a  sweeping 
assertion  "  against  the  validity  of  the  marriages  now  existing  in 
Indiana  and  other  divorcing  states.  O  no.  sir!  Nine-tenths  of  the 
people  in  those  states  —  I  trust,  ninety-nine  hundredths  —  were 
married  by  Christian  ministers,  under  the  law  of  Christ.  They 
solemnly  covenanted  to  remain  faithful  until  death,  and  they  are  ful- 
filling that  promise.  Your  easy-divorce  laws  are  nothing  to  them ; 
their  conscience  and  their  lives  have  no  part  in  those  laws.  Your 
state  might  decree  that  any  couple  may  divorce  themselves  at 
pleasure,  and  still  those  who  regard  Jesus  as  their  Divine  Master 
and  Teacher,  would  hold  fast  to  his  Word,  and  live  according  to  a 
"  higher  law  "  than  that  revised  and  relaxed  by  you. 

I    dissent   entirely    from   your   dictum   that   the   words   of   Jesu? 


194  '^""I"'    I'N'IVKKSITV    OK    THE    STATE    OK    NEW    YORK 

relative  to  marriage  and  divorce  may  have  been  intended  to  have 
a  local  and  tem])orary  application.  (.)n  the  contrary,  I  believe  he, 
unlike  Moses,  promulgated  the  eternal  and  universal  law,  founded, 
not  in  acconnnodation  to  special  circumstances,  but  in  the  essential 
nature  of  God  and  man.  1  admit  that  he  may  sometimes  have  with- 
held the  truth  that  he  deemed  his  auditors  unable  to  comprehend 
and  accept,  but  J  insist  that  what  he  did  set  forth  was  the  absolute, 
unchanging  fact.  But  1  did  not  cite  him  to  overbear  reason  by 
authority,  but  because  you  referred  first  to  Christianity  and  the 
will  of  (lod,  and  because  1  beliexe  what  he  said  respecting  marriage 
to  be  the  very  truth.  Can  you  seriously  imagine  that  your  personal 
exegesis  on  his  words  should  outweigh  the  uniform  tradition  and 
practice  of  all  Christendom? 

You  understand.  I  presume,  that  I  hold  to  separations  "  from  bed 
and  board  "  —  as  the  laws  of  this  state  allow  them  —  only  in  cases 
where  the  party  thus  separated  is  in  danger  of  bodily  harm  from 
the  ferocity  of  an  insane,  intemperate,  or  otherwise  l)rutalized,  in- 
furiated husband  or  wife.  1  do  not  admit  that  even  such  peril  can 
release  one  from  the  vow  of  continence,  which  is  the  vital  condition 
of  marriage.  It  may  possibly  be  that  there  is  "  temptation  "'  in- 
volved in  the  position  of  one  thus  legally  separated;  but  I  judge 
this  evil  far  less  than  that  which  must  result  from  the  easy  dissolu- 
tion of  marriage. 

For  here  is  the  vital  truth  that  your  theory  overlooks :  The 
Divine  end  of  marriage  is  parentage,  or  the  perpetuation  and  in- 
crease of  the  human  race.  To  this  end,  it  is  indispensable' — at 
least,  eminently  desirable  —  that  each  child  should  enjoy  protection, 
nurture,  sustenance,  at  the  hands  of  a  mother  not  only,  but  of  a 
father  also.  In  other  words,  the  parents  should  be  so  attached,  so 
devoted  to  each  other,  that  they  shall  be  practically  separable  but 
by  death.  Creatures  of  appetite,  fools  of  temptation,  lovers  of 
change,  as  men  are,  there  is  but  one  talisman  potent  to  distinguish 
between  genuine  affection  and  its  meretricious  counterfeit;  and  that 
is  the  solemn,  searching  question,  "  Do  you  know  this  woman  so 
thoroughly,  and  love  her  so  profoundly,  that  you  can  assuredly 
promise  that  you  will  forsake  all  others  and  cleave  to  her  only 
until  death?  "  If  you  can,  your  union  is  one  that  God  has  hallowed, 
and  man  may  honor  and  approve;  but,  if  not,  wait  till  you  can  thus 
pledge  yourself  to  some  one  irrevocably,  invoking  heaven  and  earth 
to  witness  your  truth.  If  you  rush  into  a  union  with  one  whom 
you  do  not  thus  know  and  love,  and  who  does  not  thus  know  and 
love  you,  yours  is  the  crime,  the  shame;  yours  be  the  life-long 


HORACE    GREELKV    MEMORIAL  I95 

penalty.  1  do  not  think,  as  men  and  women  actually  are,  this  law 
can  be  improved ;  when  we  reach  the  spirit-world,  I  presume  we 
shall  find  a  Divine  law  adapted  to  its  requirements,  and  to  our 
moral  condition.  Here,  I  am  satisfied  with  that  set  forth  by  Jesus 
Christ.  And,  while  I  admit  that  individual  cases  of  hardship  arise 
under  this  law,  I  hold  that  there  is  seldom  an  unhappy  marriage 
that  was  not  originally  an  unworthy  one  —  hasty  and  heedless,  if 
not  positively  vicious.  And,  if  people  zcill  transgress,  God  can 
scarcely  save  them  from  consec^uent  suffering;  and  I  do  not  think 
you  or  1  can. 

Yours 
A^^c  York,  March  ii,  i860  Horace  Greeley 

—  The  Nezv  York  Tribune,  March  ij,  i860. 

CORRESPOXDEXCE  ON  PROTECTION 
Editor  Press: 

In  reading  an  account  of  the  exports  for  the  year  1865,  I  find 
that  we  exported  boots  and  shoes  to  the  value  of  $2,083,210,  printed 
calico  1,080,426  yards.  Now  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  how  we  can 
compete  with  foreign  nations  in  foreign  markets  and  claim  a  pro- 
tective tariff'  to  compete  with  them  at  home? 

Why  do  we  export  wool  to  the  amount  of  466,182  lbs.  and  im- 
port shoddy  to  the  amount  of  8,133,391  lbs.?  Will  you  or  some  of 
your  correspondents  enlighten  us  on  this  subject  as  it  seems  to  be 
a  mystery. 

Yours  H. 

Anszcer. —  We  export  boots  and  shoes,  as  well  as  leather,  because 
tanning  material  (bark)  is  more  abundant  and  cheap  here  than  in 
Europe.  We  have  also  surpassed  all  other  nations  in  the  invention 
and  application  of  labor-saving  machinery  in  the  manufacture  of 
boots  and  shoes. 

Printed  calicoes  is  another  of  our  old  and  well-established  manu- 
factures in  which  costly  machinery  plays  a  very  important  part,  so 
that  we  make  them  (though  with  much  dearer  labor)  nearly  as 
cheap  as  any  other  people.  The  French  prints  (calicoes)  sell 
higher  than  ours,  being  esteemed  more  original  and  tasteful  in 
design  and  fashion.  The  British  have  this  advantage  of  us:  their 
trade  reaches  all  the  ports  of  Africa,  Asia  and  South  America  which 
ours  does  not.  Can't  you  see  why  Chicago  can  sell  more  reapers 
(for  instance)  than  Quebec  or  Rio  Janeiro,  though  we  sell  them 
no  cheaper? 


196  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

2  We  import  very  much  wool,  and  export  a  very  little  —  mostly 
very  coarse  from  California  and  Texas.  Wool  is  dearer  with  us 
in  the  average  than  elsewhere.  Shoddy  is  old  woolen  rags  broken 
and  ground  over  into  a  flimsy  material  for  filling  new  fabrics.  It 
is  largely  produced  in  Great  Britain  and  imported  here.  The  tariff 
bill  before  our  last  Congress  imposed  on  it  a  prohibitory  duty ;  but 
that  was  defeated  by  the  Free  Traders;  so  we  must  continue  to 
wear  shoddy  in  America  as  well  as  foreign  fabrics. 

H.  G. 
From  manuscript  in  New  York  State  Library 

THE  DEATH  OF  HIS  LITTLE  BOY 

Mv  Friend:  The  loss  of  my  boy  makes  a  great  change  in  my 
feelings,  plans  and  prospects.  The  joy  of  my  life  was  compre- 
hended in  his,  and  I  do  not  now  feel  that  any  personal  object  can 
strongly  move  me  henceforth.  I  had  thought  of  buying  a  country 
place,  but  it  was  for  him.  I  had  begun  to  love  flowers  and  beautiful 
objects,  because  he  liked  them.  Now,  all  that  deeply  concerns  me 
is  the  evidence  that  we  shall  live  hereafter,  and  especially  that  we 
shall  live  with  and  know  those  we  loved  here.  I  mean  to  act  my 
part  while  life  is  spared  me,  but  I  no  longer  covet  the  length  of 
days.  If  I  felt  sure  on  the  point  of  identifying  and  being  with  our 
loved  ones  in  the  world  to  come,  I  would  prefer  not  to  live  long. 
As  it  is,  I  am  resigned  to  whatever  may  be  divinely  ordered.  We 
had  but  a  few  hours  to  prepare  for  our  loss.  He  went  to  bed  as 
hearty  and  happy  as  ever.  At  5  a.  m.  he  died.  His  mother  had 
bought  him  a  fiddle  the  day  before,  which  delighted  him  beyond 
measure ;  and  he  was  only  induced  to  lay  it  up  at  night  by  his 
delight  at  the  idea  of  coming  up  in  the  morning  and  surprising  me 
by  playing  on  it  before  I  got  up.  In  the  morning  at  daylight  I  was 
called  to  his  bedside.  The  next  day,  I  followed  him  to  his  grave ! 
You  can  not  guess  how  lovely  his  long  hair  (never  cut)  looked  in 
the  coffin.  Pickie  was  5  years  old  last  March.  So  much  grace  and 
wit  and  poetry  were  rarely  or  never  blended  in  so  young  a  child, 
and  to  us  his  form  and  features  were  the  perfection  of  beauty. 
We  can  never  have  another  child,  and  life  can  not  be  long  enough 
to  efface,  though  it  will  temper,  this  sorrow.  It  dififers  in  kind  as 
well  as  degree  from  what  we  have  hitherto  experienced. 

Horace  Greeley^ 


1  The  preceding  letter  was   furnished  to  the  New   York  Evening  Sun  by 
Thomas  D.  McElheim,  in  whose  desk  it  had  lain  twenty  years  or  longer. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  19/ 

GREELEY  JUDGES  HIS  OWN  VERSE 

New  York,  Feb.  lo,  i8jp 

Mr  Boxxer:  I  perceive  by  your  Ledger  that  you  purpose  to 
publish  a  volume  (or  perhaps  several  volumes)  made  up  of  poems 
not  contained  in  Mr  Dana's  ''  Houseliold  Book  of  Poetry,"  and  I 
heartily  wish  success  to  your  enterprise.  There  arc  genuine  poems 
of  moderate  length  which  can  not  be  found  in  that  collection,  ex- 
cellent as  it  palpably  is,  and  superior  in  value,  as  I  deem  it,  to  any 
predecessor  or  yet  extant  rival.  There  are,  moreover,  some  genuine 
poets  whose  names  do  not  figure  in  ?.Ir  Dana's  double  index,  and 
I  thank  you  for  undertaking  to  render  them  justice ;  only  take  care 
not  to  neutralize  or  nullify  your  chivalrous  championship  by  bury- 
ing them  under  a  cartload  of  rhymed  rubbish,  such  as  my  great 
namesake  plausibly  averred  that  neither  gods  nor  men  can  abide, 
and  you  will  have  rendered  literature  a  service  and  done  justice  to 
slighted  merit. 

But,  Mr  Bonner,  be  good  enough  —  you  Jiiiist  —  to  exclude  inc 
from  your  new  poetic  Pantheon.  I  have  no  business  therein  —  no 
right  and  no  desire  to  be  installed  there.  I  am  no  poet,  never  was 
(in  expression),  and  never  shall  be.  True,  I  wrote  some  verses  in 
my  callow  days,  as  I  presume  most  persons  who  can  make  in- 
telligible pen  marks  have  done ;  but  I  was  never  a  poet  even  in  the 
mists  of  deluding  fancy.  All  my  verses,  I  trust,  would  not  fill  one 
of  your  pages ;  they  were  mainly  written  under  the  spur  of  some 
local  or  personal  incitement,  which  long  ago  passed  away.  Though 
in  structure  metrical,  they  were  in  essence  prosaic  —  they  were  read 
by  few,  and  those  few  have  kindly  forgotten  them.  Within  the 
last  ten  years  I  have  been  accused  of  all  possible  and  some  impossible 
offenses  against  good  taste,  good  morals  and  the  common  weal  — 
I  have  been  branded  aristocrat,  communist,  infidel,  hypocrite, 
demagogue,  disunionist,  traitor,  corruptionist.  etc.,  etc.  —  but  I  can 
not  remember  that  anyone  has  flung  in  my  face  my  youthful  trans- 
gressions in  the  way  of  rhyme.  Do  not.  then,  accord  to  the  malice 
of  my  many  enemies  this  forgotten  means  of  annoyance.  Let  the 
dead  rest!  and  let  me  enjoy  the  reputation  which  I  court  and 
deserve,  of  knowing  poetry  from  prose,  which  the  ruthless  resurrec- 
tion of  my  verses  would  subvert,  since  the  undiscerning  majority 
would  blindly  infer  that  /  considered  them  poetry.  Let  me  up ! 
Thine, 

Horace  Greeley 


198  TIIK    L'XIXEKSITV    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

AN  OFFER  TO  LEND  MONEY  TO  A  FRIEND 

Nezv  York,  Nov.  29,  18 51 

Won't  you  have  some  money  ?  I  earn  a  good  deal  and  two- 
thirds  of  it  goes  every  way  to  all  manner  of  loafers  —  why  not  you? 
I  would  rather  send  you  $50  than  not  if  you  will  let  me  —  say  so 
and  I  will  do  it.  I  long  ago  quit  wanting  to  be  rich  —  I  never  did 
want  to  live  extravagantly.  I  own  a  house ;  some  mining  stocks 
which  mean  to  be  good  some  time;  and  a  quarter  of  the  Tribune 
which  pays,  not  to  speak  of  any  number  of  I.  O.  U.'s  that  don't 
pay  and  won't  —  they'd  see  me  in  heaven  first.  Let  me  send  you 
$50,  to  be  paid  when  perfectly  convenient. 

JOHN  BROWN  DEAD 
There  are  eras  in  which  death  is  not  merely  heroic  but  beneficent 
and  fruitful.  Who  shall  say  that  this  was  not  John  Brown's  fit 
time  to  die?  ...  It  will  be  easier  to  die  in  a  good  cause,  even 
on  the  gallows,  since  John  Brown  has  hallowed  that  mode  of  exit 
from  the  troubles  and  temptations  of  this  mortal  existence.  Then 
as  to  the  "  irrepressible  conflict " :  W'ho  does  not  see  that  this 
sacrifice  must  inevitably  intensify  its  progress  and  hasten  its  end? 
.  .  .  So  let  us  be  reverently  grateful  for  the  privilege  of  living 
in  a  world  rendered  noble  by  the  daring  of  heroes,  the  suffering  of 
martyrs  —  among  whom  let  none  doubt  that  history  will  accord  an 
honored  niche  to  Old  John  Brown. —  The  New  York  Tribune. 
December  5,  i8f,o 

MAGNANIMITY  IN  TRIUMPH 

We  had  hoped  to  print  herewith  the  President's  proclamation  of 
amnesty  and  oblivion  to  the  partisans  of  the  baffled  rebellion,  and 
we  do  not  yet  despair  of  receiving  it  before  we  go  to  press,  though 
no  portion  of  it  has  yet  been  received.  We  are  apprised,  however, 
by  telegraph  from  \\'ashington.  that  its  tenor  was  publicly  debated 
in  that  city  yesterday,  while  our  State  Senate  was  agitated  by  a 
kindred  discussion.  We  can  not  shut  our  eyes  to  the  fact  that 
strenuous  eft'orts  are  being  made  to  swerve  the  President  from  the 
course  to  which  his  judgment  and  bis  feelings  alike  incline  him  by 
stigmatizing  it  as  involving  infidelity  to  principle  or  to  party. 
Others  will  be  heard  on  this  point,  though  we  were  to  keep  silence: 
we  claim,  therefore,  our  equal  right  to  set  forth  our  views,  that 
they  be  accorded  such  weight  as  they  shall  be  deemed  to  deserve. 

We  hear  men  say.  "  Yes.  forgive  the  great  mass  of  those  who 
have   been   misled    into    rebellion,   but   punish   the   leaders   as   they 


Original  in  Americana  collection. 
State  Historian  James  A.  Holden 


^, 


This_ very  scarce  and  unusual  photograph  secured  by  Austin  W.  Holden,  Capt.  Co.  F, 
22d  Reg't,  N.  Y.  v.,  at, Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  1861 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL.  I99 

deserve."  But  who  can  accurately  draw  the  Hue  between  leaders 
and  followers  in  the  premises?  By  what  test  shall  they  be  dis- 
criminated? Some  of  the  arch-plotters  of  disunion  have  never 
taken  up  arms  in  its  support,  nor  have  they  held  any  important  post 
in  its  civil  service.  Where  is  your  touchstone  of  leadership?  W'e 
know  none. 

Nor  can  we  agree  with  those  who  would  ])unish  the  original 
plotters  of  secession,  yet  spare  their  ultimate  and  scarcely  willing 
converts.  On  the  contrary,  while  we  would  revive  or  inflame  resent- 
ment against  none  of  them,  we  feel  far  less  antipathy  to  the  original 
upholders  of  "  the  resolutions  of  '98  "  —  to  the  disciples  of  Calhoun 
and  JMcDutifie  —  to  the  nullifiers  of  1832  and  the  "state  rights" 
men  of  1850  —  than  to  the  John  Bells,  Humphrey  Marshalls  and 
Alex.  H.  H.  Stuarts,  who  were  schooled  in  the  national  faith,  and 
who,  in  becoming  disunionists  and  rebels,  trampled  on  the  pro- 
fessions of  a  lifetime  and  spurned  the  logic  wherewith  they  had  so 
often  unanswerably  demonstrated  that  secession  was  treason. 
Whether  they  weakly  yielded  to  the  madness  of  the  hour,  hoping 
that  so  they  might  ultimately  "  ride  the  whirlwind  and  direct  the 
storm  "  to  some  ill-defined  but  beneficent  purpose,  or  surrendered 
their  judgment  and  their  loyalty  to  that  imposture  of  "  state 
sovereignty  "  which  they  had  always  held  in  just  contempt,  or  were 
driven  by  sheer  cowardice  and  fear  of  bodily  violence  into  a  course 
condemned  by  all  their  better  impulses,  we  protest  against  any 
discrimination  whereby  this  class  shall  be  screened  or  favored.  We 
consider  Jefierson  Davis  this  day  a  less  culpable  traitor  than  fohn 
Bell. 

But  we  can  not  believe  it  wise  or  well  to  take  the  life  of  any 
man  who  shall  have  submitted  to  the  national  authority.  The 
execution  of  even  one  such  would  be  felt  as  a  personal  stigma  by 
every  one  who  had  ever  aided  the  rebel  cause.  Each  would  say 
to  himself,  "I  am  as  culpable  as  he;  we  dififer  only  in  that  I  am 
deemed  of  comparatively  little  consequence."  A  single  Confederate 
led  out  to  execution  would  be  evermore  enshrined  in  a  million  hearts 
as  a  conspicuous  hero  and  martyr.  We  can  not  realize  that  it  would 
be  wholesome  or  safe  —  we  are  sure  it  would  not  be  magnanimous 
—  to  give  the  overpowered  disloyalty  of  the  South  such  a  shrine. 
Would  the  throne  of  the  PTouse  of  Hanover  stand  more  firmly  had 
Charles  Edward  been  caught  and  executed  after  Culloden?  Is 
Austrian  domination  in  Hungary  the  more  stable  today  for  the 
hanging  of  Nagy  Sandor  and  his  twelve  compatriot  generals  after 
the  surrender  of  Vilagos? 


200  THE    UNIVERSITY    OT   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

We  plead  against  passions  certain  at  tliis  moment  to  be  fierce 
and  intolerant ;  but  on  our  side  are  the  Ages  and  the  voice  of 
History.  We  plead  for  a  restoration  of  the  Union,  against  a  policy 
which  would  afford  a  momentary  gratification  at  the  cost  of  years 
of  perilous  hate  and  bitterness. 

We  have  borne  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  unjust  imputation 
of  hating  the  South,  when  we  hated  and  sought  to  subvert  only 
slavery,  the  scourge  alike  of  South  and  North,  and  the  sole  cause 
of  discord  between  them.  We  have  done  what  we  could  —  of 
course,  not  always  wisely  —  to  bafifie,  to  circumscribe,  and  ultimately 
to  overthrow,  the  slave  power.  At  length,  through  a  succession  of 
events  which  no  human  being  could  have  devised  or  foreseen,  the 
end  which  we  sincerely  hoped  but  hardly  expected  to  see,  is  plainly 
before  us.  American  slavery  is  visibly  in  the  agonies  of  dissolu- 
tion ;  if  we  live  a  year  longer,  we  shaH  almost  certainly  see  it  laid 
in  the  grave;  and,  whenever  al)o]ished  here,  its  expulsion  from  the 
last  rood  of  Christendom  that  it  now  curses  can  not  be  postponed 
five  years.  Let  us  take  care  that  no  vindictive  impulse  shall  be 
suffered  to  imperil  this  glorious  consummation. 

Unquestionably,  there  are  men  in  the  South  who  have  richly 
deserved  condign  punishment.  AA'hoever  is  responsible  for  the 
butchery  of  our  black  soldiers  vanquished  in  fight,  or  the  still'more 
atrocious  murder  of  captives  by  wanton  exposure  and  privation  in 
prison  camps,  stands  in  this  category.  But  the  immediate  issue 
concerns  not  the  dispensation  of  justice  to  individuals  but  the 
pacification  of  a  vast  republic.  He  who  fancies  that  all  the  exhibi- 
tions of  cruelty  or  perfidy  have  been  the  work  of  rebels  has  but  a 
superficial  knowledge  of  our  current  history. 

Those  wdio  invoke  military  execution  for  the  vanquished,  or 
even  for  their  leaders,  we  suspect,  will  not  generally  be  found 
among  a  few  who  have  long  been  exposed  to  unjust  odium  as  haters 
of  the  South,  because  they  abhorred  slavery.  And,  as  to  the  long 
oppressed  and  degraded  blacks,  so  lately  the  slaves,  destined  still 
to  be  the  neighbors,  and  we  trust  at  no  distant  day  the  fellow 
citizens  of  the  southern  whites,  we  are  sure  their  voice,  could  it  be 
authentically  uttered,  would  ring  out  decidedly,  sonorously,  on  the 
side  of  clemency  —  of  humanity. —  The  New  York  Tribune,  April 
IT.  t86^^ 

" RECOXSTRUCTION  " 

One  of  the  most  doleful  prognostics  to  which  our  great  struggle 
has  tempted  the  enemies  of  the  Republic  affirmed  the  impossibility 
of  reconciling  the  southern  people  to  the  Union  they  had  renounced. 


HORACE    GREELEV    IME.MORIAL  201 

defied,  and  would  fain  have  subverted.  "  What  will  you  do  with 
your  Poland  after  you  shall  have  conquered  it?"  triumphantly 
asked  a  Briton  of  a  Unionist,  not  anticipating  the  obvious  answer  — 
■'  We  will  liberate  the  Poles."  Nothing  but  universal  freedom  was 
needed  to  render  the  South  preponderantly  loyal  when  secession 
held  her  dumb  and  rigid  in  its  embrace ;  nothing  more  was  needed 
to  render  even  South  Carolina  a  decidedly  Union  state.  To  make 
any  state  disloyal,  you  had  to  count  its  aristocracy  everything,  its 
working  classes  nothing;  and,  though  this  was  the  political  status 
actually  existing  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  it  was  an  artificial 
status,  which  yielded  readily  to  the  rude  shock  of  war.  From  the 
hour  wherein  the  President  issued  his  first  proclamation  of  freedom, 
a  preponderance  of  the  numbers,  the  sinew^s,  and  the  prayers  of 
the  South,  ardently  adhered  to  the  side  of  the  Union,  and  only 
liberty  of  speech  and  act  were  required  to  render  that  preponderance 
effective.  To  recognize  the  humanity  and  vindicate  the  personal 
rights  of  all  the  southern  people  was  to  overthrow  the  rebellion  and 
restore  the  Union.     And  this  is  the  essence  of  "  reconstruction." 

Hence,  we  deprecated  the  adoption  by  Congress  of  any  elaborate 
or  even  definite  project  of  state  restoration;  hence  we  confidently 
look  for  a  speedy  and  thorough  reestablishment  of  peace  and  return 
to  the  ways  of  industry  and  thrift  under  the  aegis  of  the  Union. 
The  threat  of  protracting  the  war  by  guerrilla  bands  hiding  in 
swamps  and  mountain  fastnesses  is  idle.  It  might  be  possible  for 
the  Government  to  impel  a  frenzied  handful  to  this  resort  by  whole- 
sale confiscation  and  cruel  rigor;  but  no  such  madness  is  possible. 
We  have  had  a  great  civil  war,  wherein  blood  has  flowed  like  water 
and  property  been  destroyed  as  though  it  were  dross ;  we  have 
fought  it  out  like  men,  and  now  w^e  will  all  set  to  work  to  repair 
its  ravages  as  rapidly  and  thoroughly  as  we  can.  All  being  now 
free,  and  most  of  us  poor,  we  shall  all  set  to  work  to  rebuild  our 
burned  houses,  replant  and  till  our  wasted  fields,  and  repair  our 
dismantled  canals,  railroads  &c.,  at  the  earliest  possible  day,  thus 
securing  work  to  the  idle,  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  opening  vistas 
to  comfort  and  independence  for  all.  Our  lamented  dead  can  not 
be  restored ;  but  the  wounded  will  be  nursed,  the  crippled  cared  for, 
with  grateful  tenderness,  while  we  multiply  the  inventions  and 
labor-saving  machinery  whereby  the  ravages  and  losses  of  war 
shall  be  speedily  effaced  or  counterbalanced.  We  have  a  great 
public  debt ;  but  a  moderate  tax  on  the  pernicious  luxuries  con- 
sumed among  us  will  pay  its  interest  and  soon  begin  the  reduction 
of  its  amount ;  while  bounteous  crops  of  grain,  meat,  cotton,  &c.. 


202  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

with  large  and  sleatlily  increasing  drafts  upon  our  mountains  and 
glens  of  precious  ore,  will  combine  to  pay  off  our  foreign  creditors 
and  secure  a  balance  of  trade  in  our  favor.  Union-Peace-Liberty 
—  with  these  inscribetl  in  light  on  our  banner,  we  shall  move  firmly, 
proudly  on  to  the  fuUilment  of  our  country's  magnificent  destiny. 
May  she  be  henceforth  without  exception  a  terror  to  oppressors 
and  evil-doers  and  a  beacon  of  hope  and  cheer  to  the  enslaved  and 
downtrodden  throughout  the  habitable  globe!  —  The  New  York 
Tribune,  April  ii,  i86f, 

COUNSEL  TO  YOUNG   MEN 

Extract 

Believe  firmly  in  God.  Not  as  a  speculation,  nor  as  a  probability, 
but  as  vitally  nece.Nsary  to  any  rational  explanation  of  the  phenomena 
presented  all  around  and  within  us,  be  j)rofound!y  and  actively  con- 
scious that  God  lives  and  reigns,  and  that  all  we  see  and  are,  exist 
in  conformity  to  His  will.  "  God  said,  '  Let  light  be !  '  and  light 
was,"  is  the  most  lucid  and  forcible,  as  well  as  the  briefest  exposi- 
tion of  the  nature  and  process  of  creation  which  our  limited  faculties 
can  comprehend.  It  is  true  that  we  can  not  answer  a  thousand 
questions  like  these  —  "Was  there  ever  a  time  when  the  material 
universe  had  not  yet  been  spoken  into  being?  If  there  was,  what  did 
exist?  If  God  only,  zvhere  did  He  exist?  And  in  what  manner  was 
His  existence  evidenced  or  manifested?  li  He  is  infinite  and  eternal, 
while  the  universe  is  finite  and  of  yesterday,  is  it  not  likely  to  vanish 
in  obedience  to  His  fiat,  and  be  known  no  more?  "  A  simpleton  may 
thus  ask  questions  which  the  wisest  man  may  not  be  able  to  answer, 
even  to  his  own  satisfaction.  God's  existence,  freely  admitted,  by  no 
means  clears  up  the  mysteries  whereby  we  are  pressed  upon  from 
every  side ;  but  it  indicates  the  quarter  Avhence  the  solution  is  surely 
to  be  vouchsafed  us  in  His  good  time.  Feel  that  God  is,  and  rules, 
and  judges,  and  the  dark  problems  that  environ  may  no  longer 
perplex  and  distress  us ;  the  little  we  see  and  know  becomes  an  incon- 
siderable part  of  a  stupendous  whole,  which  we  need  to  see  in  its 
entirety  before  we  can  safely  or  wisely  criticise  it.  What  we  depre- 
cate and  lament  as  evil  is  illumined  and  transfigured;  we  know  that 
it  is  enveloped  and  controlled  by  universal  beneficence  —  that  it  is 
reined  and  mastered  by  Him  who  has  said  to  the  ocean  —  "  Hitherto 
shalt  thou  come,  and  no  further;  here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be 
stayed."  Since  we  know  that  God  is,  we  are  no  longer  orphans  in 
His  creation ;  the  stars  in  their  courses  may  awe,  but  can  no  longer 


HORACli    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  203 

terrify  or  appall  us,  and  all  that  was  bleak  and  forbidden  is  irradiated 
and  warmed  by  the  sunshine  of  our  Father's  love.  Whatever  may 
perplex,  or  harass,  or  afflict  him,  let  no  youngs  man  ])ermit  anything 
to  cloud  or  shake  his  steadfast  trust  in  God. 

Take  care  of  your  health.  Sinners  as  we  all  are,  I  doubt  that  we 
violate  God's  moral,  half  so  often  as  his  physical  laws,  unless  one 
counts  the  latter  violations  as  part  of  the  former.  Before  we  are 
old  enough  to  know  better,  we  eat  and  drink  more  than  would  be 
good  for  us  were  it  e\er  so  wdiolesome,  with  much  that  would  be 
hurtful  if  the  quantity  imbibed  were  ever  so  moderate.  Two-thirds 
of  the  pains  and  aches  of  childhood  are  the  immediate  effects  of 
excessive  or  improper  eating  or  drinking  —  of  these  and  nothing 
else.  But  for  these  calamitous  inflictions,  most  of  us  would  have 
destroyed  our  digestive  economy  while  yet  in  our  teens.  As  it  is, 
our  teeth  generally  evince  unmistakable  symptoms  of  decay  before 
we  have  severally  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Dyspepsia  soon 
adds  its  horrors  in  the  case  of  multitudes ;  and  at  thirty  a  formidable 
minority,  if  not  a  majority,  are  in  the  downhill  of  life,  victims  of 
their  own  ignorance  and  excesses.  Bad  cookery  (generally  excessive 
in  the  case  of  meats)  ;  food  sw^amped  and  stewed  in  grease,  meats, 
vegetables  and  beverages  swallowed  wdien  too  hot  (it  were  better 
that  we  took  nothing  when  more  than  blood-warm)  ;  a  jumble  of 
acids  and  sw^eets,  pickles  and  honey  —  these  corrode  our  teetli,  taint 
our  breath,  honeycomb  our  bones  and  deprave  all  the  muscles  and 
cartilages  whereof  our  bodies  are  composed.  ( )f  our  countrymen 
and  women  above  forty  years  old,  a  majority  are  invalids  or  daily 
sufferers  because  of  their  earlier  violations  of  the  laws  of  life  —  not 
to  mention  the  larger  number  w^hom  these  violations  have  already 
consigned  to  untimely  graves.  We  eat  too  much ;  we  eat  too  fast ; 
we  eat  at  irregular  intervals ;  we  eat  many  things  essentially  and 
inevitably  hurtful;  we  eat  as  though  the  stomach  were  an  iron  mill, 
bound  to  grind  out  whatever  grists  may  be  poured  into  the  hopper. 
We  pay  for  months  of  thoughtless  indulgence  and  igncn-ant  trans- 
gression, by  years  of  inefificiency  and  suffering.  Those  wdio  will 
inquire,  and  read,  and  consider,  need  not  thus  destroy  themselves. 
We  are  victims  of  our  own  thoughtless  sensuality,  but  not  there- 
fore innocent  victims.  It  is  our  simple  duty  to  take  good  care  of  the 
lives  and  faculties  which  have  been  entrusted  to  our  stewardship ; 
and  any  infidelity  to  this  high  trust  is  sin.  If  cleanliness  be  akin 
to  godliness,  a  due  regard  for  health  may  be  justly  accounted  a  moral 
duty.  Let  each  seek  out  the  right  and  pursue  it,  as  well  with  regard 
to  himself  as  to  his  neighbors. 


204  THE    UNIVEKSn\     OK    THE    STATE    OI"    NEW    YORK 

Be  a  good  citizen.  There  are  some  who  seem  to  fancy  it  saintly, 
or  aristocratic,  or  something  other  than  unpatriotic  and  pahry,  to 
leave  public  affairs  unheeded  to  go  as  they  may,  but  he  can  not  be  a 
thoroughly  good  man  w  ho  ignores  or  habitually  neglects  those  public 
responsibilities  which  tlnw  directly  from  citizenship  in  a  free  state 
or  country.  In  ever)  such  cotmtry  there  will  be  some  who  seek 
personal  aggrandizement  through  the  control  of  political  machinery ; 
and  every  citizen  who  neglects  his  public  duties,  renders  himself  the 
accomplice  of  these  self-seekers.  If  no  one  attended  a  primary 
meeting,  or  voted  at  an  election,  but  those  who  sought  to  subserve 
private  and  selfish  ends  thereby,  a  republic  must  soon  become  the 
most  corrupt  and  oppressive  of  despotisms.  However  good  or  bad 
in  their  practical  influences  our  institutions  may  be,  they  must  surely 
be  made  worse  by  each  habitual  abstention  from  the  performance  of 
political  duties.  He  who  sells  his  vote  to  the  highest  bidder  is  just 
twice  as  bad  as  his  neighbor  who  does  not  vote  at  all.  I  question 
the  fidelity  to  his  trust  of  the  man  who  feels  at  liberty  to  disregard 
his  obligation  to  do  whatever  he  honestly  may,  toward  placing  polit- 
ical power  in  capable  and  worthy  hands.  And  tlie  pretense  that  this 
involves  a  heavy  sacrifice  of  time  and  means  is  utterly  futile.  I 
assert  that  an  average  of  one  day  per  annum  will  fully  suffice  for 
the  just  and  faithful  performance  of  any  private  citizen's  public  or 
political  duties. 

As  to  office,  I  hold  that  the  good  citizen  will  never  solicit  it  at 
any  man's  hands,  nor  will  he  decline  it  when  its  duties  are  within 
his  capacity  and  do  not  involve  a  sacrifice  greater  than  he  can  hon- 
estly make.  If  to  accept  must  cause  his  children  to  go  hungry,  or 
his  debts  to  go  impaid,  then  it  can  rarely  be  his  duty  to  impose  such 
privations  on  others.  But  if  he  can  do  what  is  required  of  him 
and  yet  fulfil  all  his  obligations  to  his  family  or  his  creditors,  then 
it  is  his  duty  to  accept,  and  set  an  example  of  conscientious  and 
circumspect  performance  of  dtities  which  others  may  contemplate 
with  profit.  If  he  waits  to  be  solicited,  such  responsiliilities  are  not 
likely  to  be  laid  upon  him  very  frequently. 

Never  be  ashamed  of  frugality.  Ostentation  is  a  prevalent  Amer- 
ican folly.  Most  of  us  would  fain  be  thought  richer  than  we  are. 
Thousands  incur  expenses  that  they  are  scarcely  able  to  meet  through 
fear  of  being  thought  stingy  or  penniless,  when  they  might  better 
confess  their  poverty  and  save  their  money.  "  I  can  not  aft'ord  it," 
a  British  duke  will  sometimes  say,  when  asked  why  he  does  not 
incur  this  or  that  outlay:  meaning,  not  that  he  has  not  sufficient 
money,  but  that  he  has  devoted  his  income  to  other  uses.     Tlie  vnl- 


HORACE    GREELEV    MEMORIAL  205 

garity  which  makes  a  boast  of  poverty  is  scarcely  more  reprehensible 
than  that  which  fools  away  money  in  order  to  seem  indifferent  to, 
or  reckless  of,  expense.  Fear  to  be  mean  if  you  will,  but  never  to 
seem  so  if  your  circumstances  or  your  duty  counsels  frugality. 

Owe  no  man  anything  but  good  will.  I  do  not  insist  that  a  debt 
should,  under  no  circumstances,  be  incurred.  I  do  maintain  that 
the  contingency  is  rare  indeed  in  which  a  wise  and  true  man  will 
considerably  involve  himself  in  the  meshes  of  debt.  Yet  how 
readily,  how  recklessly,  most  of  our  young  men  incur  debt !  To 
"  get  into  business  "  -—  which  generally  means  to  get  a  living  other- 
wise than  by  downright  work  —  almost  any  poor  youth  will  rush 
heels  over  head  into  debt,  fancying  that  he  can  easily  pay,  by  and  by, 
a  sum  which  exceeds  his  entire  fortune ;  whereas,  a  majority  will 
never  be  free  again  while  they  live.  Young  men  !  go  to  work,  earn 
and  save,  and  never  owe  more  dollars  than  you  shall  have  previously 
earned  and  saved.  I  can't  help  hoping  for  the  day  when  those  who 
lend  without  exacting  security  will  be  told  to  collect  their  own  debts, 
if  they  can,  and  not  ask  the  state  to  do  it  for  them. 

Never  degrade  labor.  Men  do  this  every  day,  by  asking  for  em- 
ployment as  they  would  ask  for  alms.  If  you  have  no  respect  for 
yourself,  you  have  no  moral  right  thus  to  debase  others.  Faithful 
work  for  fair  wages  is  a  simple  exchange,  whereby  each  party  is 
benefited,  and  neither  is  laid  under  special  obligation.  A  true  nian 
will  sweep  streets  or  dig  ditches  on  this  footing  rather  than  secure 
easier  and  better  paid  employment  by  cringing  and  whining  for 
something  to  do.  It  is  this  general  aspiration  to  win  easy  places 
and  obtain  excessive  wages  that  puts  labor  under  the  heel  of  capital. 
Fet  every  one  readily  accept  and  cheerfully  do  the  most  satisfactory 
work  that  any  one  really  watifs  him  to  do,  and  labor  will  be  placed 
on  its  feet  again. —  U'ood's  Household  Magazine. 

THE  FARMER'S  CALLING 
If  any  one  fancies  that  he  ever  heard  me  flattering  farmers  as  a 
class,  or  saying  anything  which  implied  that  they  were  more  virtuous, 
upright,  unselfish,  or  deserving,  than  other  people.  I  am  sure  he 
must  have  misunderstood  or  that  he  now  misrecollects  me.  I  do 
not  even  join  in  the  cant,  which  speaks  of  farmers  as  supporting 
everybody  else  —  of  farming  as  the  only  indispensable  vocation. 
You  may  say  if  you  will  that  mankind  could  not  subsist  if  there 
were  no  tillers  of  the  soil ;  but  the  same  is  true  of  house-builders, 
and  of  some  other  classes.  A  thoroughly  good  farmer  is  a  useftil. 
valuable  citizen  :   so  is  a  good  merchant,  doctor,  or  lawyer.     It  is  not 


2o6  Till':  rxniCKsn^    ok    iiik  state  of  xkw  vokk 

essential  to  the  true  nubility  and  genuine  worth  of  the  farmer's  call- 
ing that  any  other  should  be  assailed  or  disparaged. 

Still,  if  one  of  my  three  sons  had  been  spared  to  attain  manhood, 
I  should  have  advised  him  to  try  to  make  himself  a  good  farmer ; 
and  this  without  any  romantic  or  poetic  notions  of  agriculture  as  a 
pursuit.  1  know  well,  from  personal  though  youthful  experience, 
that  the  farmer's  life  is  one  of  labor,  anxiety,  and  care;  that  hail, 
and  flood,  and  hurricane,  and  untimely  frosts,  over  which  he  can 
exert  no  control,  will  often  destroy  in  an  hour  the  net  results  of 
months  of  his  persistent,  well-directed  toil ;  that  disease  will  some- 
times sweep  away  his  animals,  in  spite  of  the  most  judicious  treat- 
ment, the  most  thoughtful  providence,  on  his  part ;  and  that  insects, 
blight,  and  rust,  will  often  blast  his  well-grounded  hopes  of  a  gen- 
erous har\est,  when  they  seem  on  the  very  point  of  realization.  I 
know  that  he  is  necessarily  exposed,  more  than  most  other  men,  to 
the  caprices  and  inclemencies  of  weather  and  climate ;  and  that,  if  he 
begins  responsible  life  without  other  means  than  those  he  finds  in 
his  own  clear  head  and  strong  arms,  with  those  of  his  helpmeet,  he 
must  expect  to  struggle  through  years  of  poverty,  frugality,  and 
resolute,  ])ersistcnt,  industry,  before  he  can  reasonably  hope  to  attain 
a  position  of  independence,  comfort  and  comparative  leisure.  I 
know  that  much  of  his  work  is  rugged,  and  some  of  it  absolutely 
repulsive ;  I  know  that  he  will  seem,  even  with  unbroken  good  for- 
tune, to  be  making  money  much  more  slowly  than  his  neighbor,  the 
merchant,  the  broker,  or  eloquent  lawyer,  who  fills  the  general  eye 
while  he  prospers,  and,  when  he  fails,  sinks  out  of  sight  and  is  soon 
forgotten  ;  and  yet,  1  should  have  advised  my  sons  to  choose  farming 
as  their  vocation,  for  these  among  other  reasons : 

There  is  no  other  business  in  which  success  is  so  nearly  certain 
as  in  this.  Of  one  hundred  men  who  embark  in  trade,  a  careful 
observer  reports  that  ninety-five  fail ;  and,  while  I  think  this  pro- 
portion too  large,  I  am  sure  that  a  large  majority  do,  and  must  fail, 
because  competition  is  so  eager  and  traf^c  so  enormously  overdone. 
If  ten  men  endeavor  to  support  their  families  by  merchandise  in  a 
township  which  affords  aflec[uate  business  for  but  three,  it  is  certain 
that  a  majority  must  fail,  no  matter  how  judicious  their  management 
or  how  frugal  their  living.  But  you  may  double  the  number  of 
farmers  in  any  agricultural  county  I  ever  traversed,  without  neces- 
sarily dooming  one  to  failure,  or  even  abridging  his  gains.  If  half 
the  traders  and  professional  men  in  this  country  were  to  betake 
themselves  to  frirming  tomorrow,  they  would  not  render  that  pursuit 
one  whit  less  profitable,  while  they  would  largely  increase  the  com- 


Tribune  colli-clinii 

AT    CHAPPAQUA 

"  I  am  a  poor  chopper;  yet  the  axe  is  my  'dodor   and 
delight."     Busy  Life,  p.  JOJ 


IIC»RACK    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  20/ 

fort  and  wealth  of  the  entire  comniunit}- :  and,  while  a  good  mer- 
chant, lawyer,  or  doctor,  may  be  starved  out  of  any  township,  simply 
because  the  work  he  could  do  well  is  already  confided  to  others,  I 
never  yet  heard  of  a  temperate,  industrious,  intelligent,  frugal,  and 
energetic  farmer  who  failed  to  make  a  livfng,  or  who,  unless  pros- 
trated by  disease  or  disabled  by  casualty,  was  precluded  from 
securing  a  modest  independence  before  age  and  decrepitude  divested 
him  of  the  ability  to  labor. —  Jlliat  I  Kiioic  of  Fanning,  p.   /-'-^?. 

SECESSION 

There  are  probably  those  who  believe  that  the  South,  fairly  can- 
vassed, and  relieved  from  the  irritating  threat  of  northern  coercion, 
would  have  voted  to  dissolve  the  Union  :  I  do  not.  I  firmly  believe 
that,  if  the  North  had  been  great  enough,  wise  enough,  to  say  to  the 
South,  just  after  Mr  Lincoln's  election :  "  You  must  decide  this 
question  for  yourselves.  We  will  not  buy  you.  nor  bribe  you.  nor 
hire  you,  whether  with  money  or  with  servility,  to  stay  with  us ;  we 
deny  the  pretended  constitutional,  legal  right  of  secession ;  but  we 
affirm  the  right  of  revolution  —  the  right  of  each  people  to  be  gov- 
erned as  they  see  fit.  Choose,  then,  once  and  forever,  whether  to 
remain  with  us  or  leave  us.  and  as  you  choose  it  shall  be  "  —  we 
should  have  ensured  the  defeat  and  downfall  of  the  conspirators 
for  disunion.  .  .  .  Had  we  promptly  and  frankly  quieted  these 
[those  opposed  to  northern  coercion],  by  offering  to  leave  the  whole 
matter  of  disunion  to  a  fair,  unconstrained,  popular  vote  of  the 
Southern  States,  after  mutual  explanations  and  ample  discussion, 
I  think  we  should  have  saved  the  Union  without  bloodshed,  and 
demolished  the  vocation  of  those  who  were  incessantly  and  insult- 
ingly threatening  that,  if  the  North  did  this  or  didn't  do  that,  the 
South  would  punish  her  by  dissolving  the  Union  and  leave  her  to  her 
natural  insignificance. 

Doubtless,  wiser  men  than  I  saw  all  this  in  quite  another  light ; 
i  am  here  to  listen  and  learn ;  but  I  must  look  through  my  own  eyes ; 
and,  after  much  consideration.  I  am  yet  firm  in  the  faith  that  the 
course  I  advised  was  the  true  one.^ 

TO  THE  MEX  OE  KANSAS 
Men  of  Kansas!    It  would  ill  become  me,  on  this  spot  crimsoned 
by  the  life-blood  and  hallowed  by  the  ashes  of  the  latest  martyrs 
to  the  cause  of  human  libertv.  who  were  at  the  same  time  among 


1  In  the  Xew  York  Tril)iinc.  .August  23,  i86^,  under  the  caption,  "  .\JI  about 
the  War." 


208  TllK    LMXEKSITV    OF    Tlii:    SIATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

the  bravest  and  noljlcst,  to  douln  your  fulelily  to  the  cause  with  whose 
struggles  and  trials  the  name  of  your  embryo  state  is  forever  honor- 
ably blended.  I  will  not  distrust  your  integrity  nor  your  constancy ; 
but  I  will  venture  to  say,  guard  against  dissensions;  guard  against 
the  corruption  by  Federal  patronage  or  the  promise  of  it  of  some  of 
those  you  have  been  accustomed  to  confide  in ;  guard  against  apathy; 
guard  against  unchastened  ambition ;  guard  above  all  against  new 
frauds  on  your  ballot-boxes !     .     .     . 

Yet,  when  I  think  of  the  steady  diffusion  of  intelligence  —  the 
manifest  antagonism  between  the  efforts  of  the  slavery  extensionists 
and  the  interests  of  free  labor  —  when  I  consider  how  vital  and 
imminent  is  the  necessity  for  the  passage  of  the  free  land  bill  —  when 
I  feel  how  the  very  air  of  the  nineteenth  century  vibrates  to  the 
pulsations  of  the  great  heart  of  humanity,  beating  higher  and  higher 
with  aspirations  for  universal  freedom,  until  even  barbarous  Russia 
is  intent  on  striking  off  the  shackles  of  her  fettered  millions  —  I  can 
not  repress  the  hope  that  we  are  on  the  eve  of  a  grand,  beneficent 
victory.  But,  whether  destined  to  be  waved  in  triumph  over  our  next 
great  battlefield,  or  trodden  into  its  mire  through  our  defeat,  T 
entreat  you  to  keep  the  Republican  flag  flying  in  Kansas,  so  long  as 
one  man  can  anywhere  be  rallied  to  defend  it.  Defile  not  the  glorious 
dust  of  the  martyred  dead  whose  freshly  grassed  graves  lie  thick 
around  us,  whose  imploring  spirits  hover  over  us,  by  trailing  that 
flag  in  dishonor  or  folding  it  in  coward  despair  on  this  soil  so  lately 
reddened  by  their  patriot  blood.  If  it  be  destined,  in  the  mysterious 
Providence  of  God,  to  go  down,  let  the  sunlight  which  falls  lovingly 
upon  their  graves  catch  the  last  defiant  wave  of  its  folds  in  the  free 
breeze  which  sweeps  over  these  prairies ;  let  it  be  burned,  not  sur- 
rendered, when  no  one  remains  to  uphold  it;  and  let  its  ashes  rest 
forever  with  theirs  by  the  banks  of  the  Marais  des  Cygnes !  —  From 
speech  at  a  meeting  of  citizens  attending  the  Republican  coni'ention 
at  Osazcatatnie,  Ka)i.,  May  iS,  i8jQ  (New  York  Tribune,  May  57, 
1859). 


CAMPAIGN  ADDRESSES  OF   1872 


CAMPAIGN  ADDRESSES  OF  187: 


APPEALS   IX    BEHALF  OF  REC0XC1LL\T10N 
EXTRACTS   FROiM    SPEECHES   DELIVERED   IN    THE    CANVASS   OF    1872 

At  Covington,  Ky. 
Mr  Mayor  and  Gentlemen:  It  is  simply  impossible  for  me,  speak- 
ing from  this  elevation,  to  be  heard  by  any  considerable  portion  of 
this  vast  assemblage.  I  will  therefore  say  but  a  few  words,  and  let 
my  life  and  actions  speak  for  me  the  rest  that  I  would  gladly  say. 
[Cheers]  I  am  glad  to  stand  before  you  on  the  soil  of  Kentucky, 
and  to  believe  that  I  have  your  sympathy  and  cooperation  in  the 
efforts  I  have  long  made  toward  bringing  the  American  people,  the 
whole  American  people,  into  more  hearty  and  cordial  recognition 
of  the  truth  that  they  are  and  must  ever  remain  fellow  countrymen. 
[Cheers]  I  have  labored  in  behalf  of  that  truth  in  the  face  of 
obloquy,  of  misrepresentation,  of  prejudice,  and  of  the  natural 
passion  born  of  a  bloody  civil  war.  I  believe  that  the  hour  of  the 
triumph  of  that  sentiment  is  now  approaching.  I  believe  that  the 
day  is  at  iiand  when  we  shall  very  generally  realize  that  henceforth 
it  becomes  us  to  banish  all  bitterness  and  hatred,  and  forget  our  past 
conflicts  and  struggles  against  each  other,  and  to  remember  only  the 
blessed  legacy  of  liberty  and  independence  bequeathed  to  us  by  an 
illustrious  ancestry.  [Cheers]  In  behalf  of  these  truths  I  have 
dared  to  alienate  friends  whom  I  loved,  and  who  loved  me.  I  have 
ventured  to  make  myself  called  a  turncoat,  a  renegade,  by  men  who 
will  yet  comprehend  me  better,  and  regret  that  they  so  misappre- 
hended me.  [Cheers]  No  fear  of  present  injury,  of  present  evil 
speaking,  of  present  reproach,  has  at  any  time  deterred  me  from 
doing  that  which  seemed  my  duty  to  my  country. 

When  I  first,  at  the  close  of  our  great  war,  declared  that  our  coun- 
try must  be  rebuilt  on  the  foundations  of  universal  amnesty  and 
impartial  suffrage,  I  knew  that  platform  was  not  acceptable  at  the 
North  nor  at  the  South.  There  were  those  who  believed  in  and 
comprehended  the  blessings  of  universal  amnesty,  and  yet  rejected 
and  spurned  impartial  suffrage ;  and  there  were  those  who  eagerly 
clutched  at  impartial  suffrage  and  rejected  and  condemned  uni- 
versal amnesty ;  and  there  were  a  great  many  who  were  alike  hostile 
to  both.  If  the  question  had  been  put  to  a  vote  of  the  people  of  the 
country,  not  one-fifth  of  them  would  have  sustained  my  program. 
\'ery  well,  said  I,  T  can  wait;  and  I  have. 


212  THE    LXIVEKSITV    OF    THK    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

At  Dayton,  O. 

We  arc  one  people,  and  shall  evermore  remain  one  people.  Shall 
we  be  a  harmonious  people?  Shall  ours  be  a  Union  eemented  only 
by  bayonets,  or  shall  it  be  a  Union  of  hearts  and  hopes  and  hands? 
I  am  for  the  latter  union.  [Applause]  I  am  here  not  to  exult 
over  the  vietories  won  in  the  late  war.  I  am  here  not  to  make  one 
particle  of  prejudice  or  triumph.  I  do  not  propose  to  do  anything 
which  shall  make  the  southern  people  feel  bitterly  that  the  union 
between  us  is  one  of  exultation  on  our  part  and  humiliation  on  theirs. 
1  think  he  is  not  a  patriot  who  would  try  to  intensify  the  bitterness 
and  soreness  that  those  wdio  fought  against  us  must  feel  in  view  of 
their  great  defeat.  Theirs  is  a  lost  cause  but  they  are  not  a  lost 
people,  for  they  belong  to  us.  They  are  our  brethren,  they  have 
come  back  to  us  under  compulsion,  if  you  say  so;  but  I  wish  to 
chaiige  that  compulsion  into  affection,  for  that  is  statesmanship. 
That  work  I  am  seeking,  as  far  as  I  can,  to  do. 

Fellow  citizens  of  Ohio:  Since  the  day  I  left  home  I  have  made 
a  great  many  speeches  like  this,  but  no  man  has  heard  from  me  one 
word  implying  disrespect  or  disparagement  for  that  eminent  citizen 
and  public  servant,  the  President  of  the  United  States.  No  word 
from  me  has  thrown  disparagement  on  his  public  services  or  dis- 
honor on  his  high  office.  I  am  among  you,  a  citizen,  speaking  to 
citizens  of  the  United  States  on  things  that  concern  your  well-being 
and  mine,  because  they  concern  the  welfare  and  greatness  of  our 
common  country.  I  beseech  you  so  to  act  in  the  struggle  now  upon 
us,  so  to  vote,  that  your  acts  and  your  votes  will  tend  to  bind  up  the 
wounds  of  our  country.  I  beseech  you  so  to  act  and  speak  and 
live,  that  your  victory  shall  be  a  tearless  victory ;  that  no  one  shall 
feel  humbled  because  of  your  triumph  ;  that  no  man  shall  be  trampled 
under  your  "  on-rushing  feet."  So  friends,  in  the  hope  and  trust 
that  Ohio,  like  Indiana  and  Pennsylvania,  will  pronounce,  on  the 
8th  of  October,  for  a  genuine  peace,  T  bid  you  farewell. 

At  Jeffersonville,  Ind. 

Mr  Mayor  and  Citkctts  of  Jcffcrsoirc'Hlr:  I  should  be  very  incon- 
sistent and  ungrateful  if  my  life  had  not  been  devoted,  according 
to  my  best  understanding,  to  the  interest  and  welfare  of  the  great 
laboring  class,  from  which  I  sprang,  and  with  which  I  have  always 
been  connected.  P)Cginning  life  as  a  laborer  on  a  farm,  going  thence 
into  a  mechanic's  shop,  and  learning  my  trade  as  a  printer.  I  have 
devoted  the  rest  of  my  life  first  to  my  employment  as  printer  and 
editor,  and  afterward  to  some  extent  to  the  calling  of  a  moderate 


Clendenin  collect 


THE    FAVORITE    PORTRAIT 


Taken  early  in  1872.     Mrs  Clendenin'-^  choice  of  her  father's  many 
l)hotographs 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  21 3 

farmer.  I  feel  that  my  sympathies  could  not  have  been  otherwise 
than  with  the  immense  majority  of  mankind,  who  in  all  ages  are' 
required  to  subsist  by  their  own  manual  industry.  1  have  meant  to 
be,  in  my  politics  as  in  my  business,  the  frientl  of  labor.  I  may  have 
made  mistakes  (^who  has  not?)  in  the  policy  which  1  thought  best 
adapted  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  workingman.  I  may  just  as 
well  have  been  mistaken  as  equally  honest,  equally  earnest  men  who 
have  advocated  a  diti'erent  policy ;  but  I  know  what  my  purpose 
was. 

I  was  in  the  days  of  slavery,  an  enemy  of  slavery,  because  I 
thought  slavery  inconsistent  with  the  rights,  dignity,  and  highest 
well-being  of  free  labor.  That  might  have  been  a  mistake,  but  it 
was  at  any  rate  an  earnest  conviction.  So  when  our  great  trouble 
came  on,  I  was  anxious  first  of  all  for  labor  —  that  the  laboring 
class  should  be  everywhere  free  men.  I  was  anxious  next  that  our 
country's  unity  might  be  preserved,  without  bloodshed  if  that  were 
possible  —  by  means  of  bloodshed,  if -that  dire  alternative  should  be 
fastened  on  us.  For,  friends  and  neighbors,  bloodshed  is  always 
a  sad  necessity  —  always  a  woeful  necessity  —  and  he  who  loves 
his  fellowman  must  desire  to  make  it  as  short  as  possible,  and,  so 
soon  as  peace  can  be  restored,  to  efface  as  speedily  as  may  be  every 
trace  not  merely  of  blood  on  the  earth,  but  of  vengeful  feelings 
from  the  hearts  of  his  fellows.  Such  has  been  the  impulse  of  the 
course  I  have  pursued  throughout  the  last  few  eventful  years. 

My  life  has  been  an  open  book;  all  could  read  it.  My  thoughts 
have  been  given  to  the  public  warm  and  fresh,  sometimes  before  an 
opportunity  had  been  afforded  for  due  consideration  and  correc- 
tion—  very  often  mingled  with  thoughts  of  others  which  were  not 
my  own,  but  which  it  was  very  easy  to  attribute  to  me.  So  I  have 
come  on  to  this  time.  No  one  who  heard  my  utterances  or  listened 
to  them  in  any  way  directly  after  the  close  of  the  w^ar,  when  I 
pleaded  for  magnanimity,  for  forbearance,  for  the  speediest  possible 
eft'acement  of  all  sores  and  sorrows  from  the  public  mind  —  no  one 
who  heeded  me  then  can  doubt  where  I  must  stand  now  —  no  one ! 

Hamilton,  O. 

So  the  South  will  say.  The  time  shall  be  when  the  states  south 
of  the  Ohio  shall  rejoice  as  heartily  as  you  can  rejoice,  that  slavery 
has  passed  aw^ay  forever.  They  will  feel  that  a  great  chain  was 
lifted  from  their  necks;  that  the  shackles  were  broken  which  bound 
their  limbs  when  four  millions  of  our  American  people  were  lib- 
erated and  made  citizens  of  this  country  where  they  had  formerly 


214  '^"'I'-    UXIVKKSITV    oi'    HIE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

been  slaves.  They  will  yet  realize  that  Virginia,  the  Carolinas  and 
Georgia  shall  be  richer  and  nobler,  freer  and  purer  than  they  would 
have  been  so  long  as  part  of  their  ])cople  were  held  in  bondage.  They 
will  realize  that  what  was  their  weakness  has  through  emancipation 
become  their  strength  ;  will  rejoice  that  nothing  now  remains  to  mar 
the  unity  or  cloud  the  destiny  of  our  country.  Now  we  say,  and  they 
say,  let  hatred  and  bitterness,  let  contention  and  jealousy  perish  for- 
ever. Let  us  forget  that  we  have  fought  Let  us  remember  only 
that  we  have  made  peace.  Let  us  say  there  shall  be  no  degradation, 
no  people  over  whom  we  triumph.  Our  triumph  is  their  triumph. 
Our  triumph  is  the  ui)lifting  of  every  one  to  the  common  platform 
of  American  liberty  and  American  nationality.  Our  triumph  is  not 
the  triumph  of  a  section  ;  it  is  not  the  triumph  of  a  race;  it  is  not  a 
triumph  of  a  class.  It  is  the  triumph  of  the  American  ])eople,  mak- 
ing us  all  in  life,  in  heart  antl  j)ur]i(!se  the  people,  the  one  people 
of  the  great  American  Republic. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  ADDRESSES 


EXTRACTS   FROM  ADDRESSES 


CONFORMITY 

I  would  have  no  man  do  this  or  refrain  from  that  in  contradiction 
from  the  world,  any  more  than  in  consistency  with  it.  Nay  more: 
I  admit  and  counsel  acquiescence  with  the  ordinary,  the  prescribed,, 
the  established,  in  all  matters  essentially  indififerent  or  trifling.  J 
loathe  perverseness  —  it  is  at  war  with  harmony  and  the  supreme 
good.  Convince  me  that  the  Quaker  remains  stubbornly  covered  in 
the  presence  of  his  equals,  his  seniors,  from  mere  mulishness  or 
whim,  and  I  abandon  him  to  your  rebukes.  I  will  second  them  with 
my  own.  But  let  me  realize  that  that  rude  noncompliance  stands  to 
him  for  a  vital  fact  —  that  it  symbolizes  to  him  a  great  principle,  to 
wit,  the  stern  uprising  of  a  true  manhood  against  servility  and  fawn- 
ing adulation,  and  I  will  defend  him  to  the  last  gasp  —  I  will  do  him 
such  reverence  as  befits  a  manly  self-respect,  for  his  stout  fidelity  to 
a  conviction. 

But  in  truth  the  vice  of  our  time,  and  I  apprehend  of  all  times, 
with  rare  exceptions,  is  of  opposite  tendency,  and  it  is  to  oppose  this 
that  our  shields  should  be  locked  and  our  spears  pointed.  There 
is  a  simpering  and  dapper  conformity,  a  blind  deferring  to  other 
men's  estimates,  habits,  tastes,  which  robs  life  of  its  freshness,  its 
originality,  its  masculine  strength.  Where  all  are  content  to  dress, 
to  dine,  to  walk,  and  most  to  think,  to  feel,  to  act,  as  some  dozen  or 
score  shall  see  fit  to  dictate,  what  wonder  that  invention  is  checked, 
that  genius  is  caged,  that  existence  becomes  tame  and  vacant,  or, 
if  not  torpid,  still  unmeaning  as  an  idiot's  tale?  The  waters  of  this 
dead  sea  of  complaisance  and  barren  formality  need  to  be  visited 
now  and  then  by  the  rough  gales  of  Heaven,  even  though  they  be 
shocked,  and  agitated,  and  driven  helter-skelter  thereby;  better  this 
than  that  they  should  become  stagnant  and  putrid.  Do  not  mistakenly 
imagine  that  you  must  go  out  of  yourself  —  that  you  must  become 
eccentric  and  extravagant  to  produce  this  efifect.  In  the  midst  of 
universal  ducking,  and  sidling,  and  compromise,  you  will  seem 
sufficiently  rigid  and  angular  if  you  walk  simply  and  naturally  on. 

The  danger  of  this  dead  complaisance  —  of  living  not  your  own 
genuine  thought  but  other  men's  opinions,  which  even  if  true  for 
them  are  not  wholly  so  for  you  —  is  one  of  the  most  subtle  and  per- 
vading of  the  many  which  track  the  ingenuous  and  timid  through  life. 
It  is  an  evil  which  magnifies  as  our  social  relations  become  more  arti- 

21/ 


2l8  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

ficial,  and  complex,  and  penetraling.  It  assails  us  even  on  the  side 
of  our  \irtues.  Each  of  us  is  attached  to  some  party  in  politics, 
some  sect  in  religion,  some  coterie  in  morals,  philanthropy  or  cul- 
ture ;  and  this  is  well,  so  long  as  that  party,  that  coterie,  shall  repre- 
sent to  us  the  highest  attainable  good  in  that  i)articular  province 
which  it  contemplates.  But  the  impulse  which  says,  "  Do  not  pro- 
claim that  certain  truth  which  you  have  discerned,  because  other 
men  have  not  discovered  it,  and  your  bold  advocacy  will  be  wielded 
to  the  prejudice  of  your  sect  or  i)arty,"  deserves  only  to  be  scouted 
and  trampled  under  foot.  What  right  has  sect  or  party  to  inter- 
meddle with  your  free  thought,  save  to  accept  or  reject  it?  What 
right  to  subject  the  line  of  your  truth  to  the  orbit  of  its  policy  — 
perchance  its  narrow  policy  and  low  though  correct  aims?  O  fear 
not  to  be  wholly  true  and  manful,  and  the  devotees  of  policy  and 
craft  shall  be  driven  into  conformity  with  your  lofty  and  earnest 
endeavor!  —  From  lecture,  the  "Formation  of  Character." 

EDUCATION 
We  seek  and  meditate  a  perfect  combination  of  study  with  labor. 
Of  course,  this  is  an  enterprise  of  great  difficulty,  destined  to  en- 
counter the  most  formidable  obstacles  from  false  pride,  natural  indo- 
lence, fashion,  tradition,  and  exposure  to  ridicule.  It  is  deplorably 
true  that  a  large  portion,  if  not  even  a  majority  of  our  youth  seeking 
a  liberal  education,  addict  themselves  to  study  in  order  that  they  may 
escape  a  life  of  manual  labor,  and  would  prefer  not  to  study,  if  they 
knew  how  else  to  make  a  living  without  downright  muscular  exertion, 
but  they  do  not ;  so  they  submit  to  be  ground  through  academy  and 
college,  not  that  they  love  study  or  its  intellectual  fruits,  but  that 
they  may  obtain  a  livelihood  with  the  least  possible  sweat  and  toil. 
Of  course,  these  will  not  be  attracted  by  our  program,  and  it  is  prob- 
ably well  for  us  that  they  are  not.  But  I  think  there  is  a  class  — 
small,  perhaps,  but  increasing  —  who  would  fain  study,  not  in  order 
to  escape  their  share  of  manual  labor,  but  to  qualify  them  to  perform 
their  part  in  it  more  efficiently  and  usefully  —  not  in  order  to  shun 
work,  but  to  qualify  them  to  work  to  better  purpose.  They  have  no 
mind  to  be  drudges,  but  they  have  faith  in  the  ultimate  elevation  of 
mankind  above  the  necessity  of  lifelong  uninterrupted  drudgery, 
and  they  aspire  to  do  something  toward  securing  or  hastening  that 
consummation.  They  know  that  manual  labor  can  only  be  dignified 
or  elevated  by  rendering  it  more  intelligent  and  efficient,  and  that 
this  can  not  be  so  long  as  the  educated  and  the  intellectual  shun 
such  labor  as  fit  only  for  boors. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  21(J 

Our  idea  regards  physical  exertion  as  essential  to  human  develop- 
ment, and  productive  industry  as  the  natural,  proper,  God-given 
sphere  of  such  exertion.  Exercise,  recreation,  play  are  well  enough 
in  their  time  and  place ;  but  work  is  the  Divine  provision  for  develop- 
ing and  strengthening  the  physical  frame.  Dyspepsia,  debility,  and 
a  hundred  forms  of  wasting  disease,  are  the  results  of  ignorance  or 
defiance  of  this  truth.  The  stagnant  marsh,  and  the  free,  pure- 
running  stream,  aptly  exemplify  the  disparity  in  health  and  vigor 
between  the  worker  and  the  idler.  Intellectual  labor,  rightly  directed, 
is  noble — far  be  it  from  me  to  disparage  it  —  but  it  does  not 
renovate  and  keep  healthful  the  physical  man.  To  this  end,  we 
insist,  persistent  muscular  exertion  is  necessary,  and,  as  it  is  always 
well  that  exercise  should  have  a  purpose  other  than  exercise,  every 
human  being  not  paralytic  or  bedridden  should  bear  a  part  in  manual 
labor,  and  the  young  and  immature  most  of  all.  The  brain-sweat  of 
the  student  —  the  tax  levied  by  study  on  the  circulation  and  the 
vision  —  are  best  counteracted  by  a  daily  devotion  of  a  few  hours 
to  manual  labor. —  From  address  at  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone 
of  the  People's  College.  Havana,  N .  Y ..  September  2,  1858. 


The  great  struggle  for  human  progress  and  elevation  proceeds 
noiselessly,  often  unnoted,  often  checked  and  apparently  baffled, 
amid  the  clamorous  and  debasing  strifes  impelled  l)y  greedy  selfish- 
ness and  low  ambition.  In  that  struggle,  maintained  by  the  wise  and 
good  of  all  parties,  all  creeds,  all  climes,  I  call  you  to  l)ear  the  part 
of  men.  Heed  the  lofty  summons,  not  the  frail  messenger,  and,  with 
souls  serene  and  constant,  prepare  to  tread  boldly  in  the  path  of 
highest  duty.  So  shall  life  be  to  you  truly  exalted  and  heroic ;  so 
shall  death  be  a  transition  neither  sought  nor  dreaded ;  so  shall  your 
memory,  though  cherished  at  first  but  by  a  few  humble,  loving  hearts, 
linger  long  and  gratefully  in  human  remembrance,  a  watchword  to 
the  truthful  and  an  incitement  to  generous  endeavor,  freshened  by 
the  proud  tears  of  admiring  affection,  and  fragrant  with  the  odors 
of  Heaven  !  —  Peroration  of  address  before  the  literary  societies  of 
Hamilton  College,  July  2j,  1844. 

THE  NEW  ERA 

So,  then,  friends,  I  summon  you  all.  Republicans  and  Democrats, 

to  prepare  for  the  new  issues  and  new  struggles  that  visibly  open 

before  us.     In  the  times  not  far  distant,  I  trust  we  shall  consider 

questions  mainly  of   industrial   policy  —  questions  of   national   ad- 


220  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

vancement  —  questions  concerning  the  best  means  whereby  our  dif- 
ferent parties  may,  through  cooperation,  or  through  rivalry,  strive  to 
promote  the  prosperity,  the  happiness,  and  the  true  glory  of  the 
American  people.  To  thai  contest  I  invite  you.  For  that  contest 
I  Wduld  prepare  you.  And  so,  trusting  lliat  the  bloodshed  in  the 
past  will  be  sufficient  atonement  for  the  sins  of  the  past,  and  that  we 
are  entering  upon  a  grand  New  Departure,  not  for  one  party  only, 
but  f(jr  the  whole  country  —  a  departure  from  strife  to  harmony, 
from  devastation  to  construction,  from  famine  and  desolation  to 
peace  and  plenty  —  I  bid  you,  friends  and  fellow  citizens,  an  aflfec- 
tionate  good  night. —  At  reception  of  Mr  Grcclcy  at  the  Lincoln  Club 
rooms,  Neii'  York,  June  t2,  i8yi. 


So  the  work  of  the  lonely  pioneer,  buried  deep  in  the  primitive 
forest,  wherein  his  rude  log  cabin  has  just  been  thrown  up.  around 
which  he  is  slowly  beating  ])ack  the  empire  of  shade  and  savagism  by 
(Hnt  of  axe  and  tire,  seems  petty  and  casual  when  regarded  by 
itself;  but  could  we,  from  some  commanding  height,  some  ship  of 
the  air,  look  down  at  once  upon  the  whole  body  of  ])ioneers  at  their 
daily  labor,  we  should  recognize  in  their  desultory  array  the  skirmish 
line  of  advancing  civilization,  the  harl)inger  of  intelligence,  comfort, 
thrift,  humanity,  religion.  The  wolf,  the  bear,  the  serpent,  perishing 
or  vanishing  as  the  pioneer  host  slowly,  irregularly,  yet  inexorably, 
moves  on.  are  now  seen  to  be  types  of  a  moral  order,  which  civilized 
society  is  destined  to  supplant  and  replace. —  At  Cincinnati,  0., 
September  20,  18"/ 2,  address  before  the  Exposition. 

THE  PRESS 
I  think  we  may  fairly  claim  for  the  press  this,  that,  with  all  its 
imperfections,  and  sharing,  as  it  doubtless  does,  the  passions  of  its 
patrons,  it  has  done  more,  on  the  whole,  to  moderate  than  to  stim- 
ulate those  rapacious  instincts  and  those  ambitious  passions  of  man- 
kind, which  have  been  the  great  obstacles  to  human  progress,  es- 
pecially in  the  spheres  of  art  and  industry,  and  more  than  all  of 
intelligence.  We  have  heard  tonight  very  much  said  of  the  advan- 
tages and  the  blessings  of  material  commerce ;  and  all  of  it.  I  doubt 
not,  truly.  I  think,  however,  that  nations  have  ])rotited  more  decid- 
edly, more  consistently,  or  rather  permanently,  l\v  the  commerce  of 
ideas,  than  by  the  commerce  in  material  objects.  And  now.  if  China 
and  this  country  are  to  come,  as  I  trust  they  may,  into  more  harmon- 
ious and  intimate  relations  than  they  have  hitherto  held.  I  hoj)e  that 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  221 

she  will  gain  more  of  us  by  borrowing  our  arts  and  our  ideas,  and 
that  we  shall  gain  more  of  her,  as  I  doubt  not  we  can  gain  more,  by 
so  borrowing  of  her  those  which  are  the  less  material  trophies  of  her 
progress  and  her  thought  than  by  the  simple  interchange  of  commod- 
ities.—  Speech  at  the  banquet  to  Anson  Btirlingame  and  his  asso- 
ciates of  the  Chinese  Embassy,  June  2^,  1868,  responding  to  the 
toast,  "  The  Press." 

LINCOLN 
The  Republic  needed  to  be  passed  through  chastening,  purifying 
fires  of  adversity  and  suffering:  so  these  came  and  did  their  work, 
and  the  verdure  of  a  new  national  life  springs  greenly,  luxuriantly, 
from  their  ashes.  Although  men  were  helpful  to  the  great  renova- 
tion, and  nobly  did  their  part  in  it,  yet,  looking  back  through  the 
lifting  mists  of  seven  eventful,  tragic,  trying,  glorious  years,  I  clearly 
discern  that  the  one  providential  leader,  the  indispensable  hero  of 
the  great  drama  —  faithfully  reflecting  even  in  his  hesitations  and 
seeming  vacillation  the  sentiment  of  the  masses  —  fitted  by  his  very 
defects  and  shortcomings  for  the  burden  laid  upon  him,  the  good  to 
be  wrought  out  through  him.  was  Abraham  Lincoln. —  From  "An 
Estimate  of  Abraham  Lincoln''  in  "Greeley  on  Lincoln,"  ed.  Joel 
Benton,  p.  /8-/p. 


SOME  RECOLLECTIONS  OF 
HORACE   GREELEY 


SOME  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  HORACE 
GREELEY 

From  an  intervieiv  of  the  State  Historian  with  Chester  S.  Lord, 

Regent  of  The  University  of  the  State  of  Netv  York  and 

managing  editor  of  the  Neiv  York  Sun  for 

thirty-two  years 

You  have  asked  me  to  say  something  concerning  my  recollections 
of  Horace  Greeley.  You  have  asked  also  concerning  his  relations 
with  Charles  A.  Dana.  Mr  Dana  went  to  the  Tribune  soon  after 
the  failure  of  the  Brook  Farm  colony,  and  his  relations  with  Mr 
Greeley  were  cordial  and  pleasant  enough  up  to  the  time  of  the 
Civil  War.  Then  they  became  somewhat  strained  owing  to  Mr 
Greeley's  somewhat  unnational  attitude,  while  Mr  Dana  was  in  favor 
of  a  more  strenuous  campaign  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 
Some  of  the  most  vigorous  editorial  articles  of  that  period,  which 
appeared  in  the  Tribune,  advocating  stronger  federal  action,  were 
inspired  or  written  by  Mr  Dana.  After  the  latter  quit  the  Tribune, 
and  had  served  as  Assistant  Secretary  of  War,  he  bought  the  Sun, 
and  made  it  the  great  paper  that  it  afterward  became.  I  think  that 
he  and  Mr  Greeley  did  not  to  any  great  degree  revive  the  old 
friendship,  although  for  many  years  Mr  Greeley's  picture  orna- 
mented Mr  Dana's  desk.  At  the  time  of  the  nomination  of  Greeley 
for  the  presidency,  I  had  but  recently  arrived  in  New  York  City 
and  become  a  menil)er  of  the  Sun  staff.  I  can  remember  very  clearly 
going  as  a  cub  reporter  with  Amos  Cummings  to  visit  Mr  Greeley 
on  the  day  of  his  nomination  to  the  presidency,  and  listening  to  what 
he  had  to  say.  The  editorial  room  was  on  the  second  floor  of  the  old 
Tribune  building,  a  four-story  structure  where  the  present  Tribune 
edifice  stands.  Mr  Greeley's  desk  was  close  to  the  window;  and 
from  the  street  the  great  editor  Avas  to  be  seen  always  while  at 
work.  Either  his  desk  was  very  high  or  his  chair  was  very  low 
for  while  he  wrote  his  desk  was  nearly  on  a  level  with  his  chin.  He 
was  nearsighted.  Had  he  hved  until  nowadays,  he  must  certainly 
have  been  pointed  out  by  the  conductors  of  the  "  rubber-neck 
wagons,"  for  he  was  one  of  the  sights  of  the  town.  Mr  Cummings 
wrote  a  fine  description  of  Mr  Greeley's  surroundings  and  of  the 
reception  given  to  the  scores  of  well-known  persons  who  crowded 
in  to  congratulate  him.  Mr  Greeley  was  writing  an  editorial  article 
when  the  news  of  his  nomination  came.  The  room  contained  three 
chairs,  two  desks  and  a  high  stool.     Two  of  the  chairs  were  cane- 

225 


226  THE    UNIVERSITY    OE    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

bottomed  and  one  of  them  had  a  broken  arm.  A  high  desk  fronting 
the  west  window  was  used  by  Mr  Greeley's  secretary.  There  was 
an  old  sofa  in  the  room.  An  immense  map  of  the  world  covered  the 
back  of  the  room,  and  another  side  of  the  apartment  was  adorned 
with  maps  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York.  The  space  between  the 
two  windows  was  occupied  by  a  steel  plate  engraving  of  "  The  Land- 
ing of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  "  and  a  framed  copy  of  President  Lin- 
coln's "  Emancipation  Proclamation."  An  open  bookcase  filled  with 
books  of  reference  was  in  a  corner.  The  great  editor's  desk  was 
littered  with  newspaper  clipi)ings  and  manuscripts,  and  Mr  Cum- 
mings  remarked  that  some  of  them  looked  as  though  they  had  slept 
on  the  desk  since  the  time  when  Henry  Clay  ran  for  President.  Two 
brass-bound  volumes  of  the  Tribune  Almanac  from  the  date  of  its 
publication  were  chained  to  the  desk.  A  rickety  pair  of  scissors  also 
swung  from  a  chain.  Mr  Greeley's  hat  lay  on  the  desk.  The  small 
drawers  of  the  desk  were  drawn  half  out.  Postage  stamps,  envel- 
opes, letter  paper  and  old  pamphlets  seemed  ready  to  fall  out  of  the 
drawers.  A  box  of  common  red  wafers  was  half  upset  on  the  left, 
while  an  old-fashioned  sand  box,  used  for  blotting,  was  standing 
guard  over  the  accident.  The  top  of  the  desk  was  covered  with 
bright-colored  volumes  in  orderly  rows.  Among  them  were  Lan- 
man's  Dictionary  of  Congress,  the  Congressional  Directory,  the  Blue 
Book,  State  Manual  and  similar  works.  The  editorial  chair  was  a 
high  cane-backed  affair  rigged  on  a  swivel.  It  squeaked  when  it  was 
turned. 

Mr  Greeley  was  dressed  in  a  black  suit  throughout.  He  wore  a 
steel-pen  coat.  His  pantaloons  were  drawn  over  his  bootlegs.  The 
legend  that  he  habitually  went  around  with  one  trouser  leg  tucked  in 
his  boot  is  a  fable.  His  cravat  was  not  out  of  place.  He  wore  no 
jewelry.  Plain  china  shirt  buttons  glistened  on  his  bosom  and  a  black 
silk  watch  ribbon  ran  about  his  neck.  He  greeted  his  visitors  with 
unusual  urbanity. 

Mr  Cummings's  interview  as  reported  in  the  Sun  of  the  following 
day  is  as  follows : 

Reporter  —  Did  you  expect  the  nomination,  Mr  Greeley? 

Dr  Greeley  —  I  thought  Senator  Trumbull  would  get  it.  He 
would  have  made  an  excellent  candidate.  I  can  not  say  that  I  ex- 
pected the  nomination. 

Reporter  —  Have  you  read  the  platform? 

Dr  Greeley  —  I  have  read  what  has  been  telegraphed. 

Reporter  —  I  have  not  seen  the  despatches.  Have  they  run  a  tarifif 
plank  into  the  platform? 


Tribune  collection 


AT    HIS    DESK 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  22/ 

Dr  (ireeley  (with  an  honest  smile)  — They  have  done  just  what 
1  thouglit  they  should  have  done,  and  just  what  I  advised  —  referred 
the  whole  tariff  husiness  to  the  people,  to  be  settled  in  the  congres- 
sional districts. 

Reporter  —  If  the  people  elect  a  majority  of  Congressmen  in  favor 
of  a  repeal  of  the  tariff'  bill,  and  the  Congress  repeals  that  bill,  what 
would  be  the  duty  of  the  next  President  of  the  United  States? 

Dr  Greeley  (promptly)  —  It  would  be  his  duty  to  sign  the  bill 
passed  by  Congress. 

Reporter  —  If  you  are  elected  President  will  you  sign  such  a  bill 
if  Congress  passes  it  ? 

Dr  Greeley  —  I  certainly  will.  I  shall  endeavor  to  carry  out  the 
expressed  wishes  of  the  people,  despite  my  own  impressions  or  con- 
victions. 

Reporter  —  If  the  convention  had  adopted  a  free  trade  plank- 
would  you  have  accepted  the  nomination? 

Dr  Greeley  —  I  would  not.  I  telegraphed  that  if  the  free  traders 
got  control  of  the  convention  I  would  not  accept  the  nomination.  I 
could  not  have  accepted  the  nomination  on  a  high  tariff"  platform,  for 
I  believed  that  the  whole  subject  should  be  referred  to  the  people 
themselves.  It  was  a  matter  that  concerned  the  people  more  than 
the  convention.  The  convention  did  right  in  referring  it  to  the  Con- 
gress districts.  ( )ur  friends  went  into  the  convention  with  their 
colors  flying  and  came  out  of  it  with  flying  colors.  The  people  are 
to  decide  the  question  of  the  tariff,  and  the  people  are  tiie  proper 
parties  to  decide  it. 

Reporter  —  I  see  you  were  nominated  on  the  sixth  ballot,  Mr 
Greeley. 

Dr  Greeley  —  Yes.  I  think  it  more  creditable  to  be  nominated  on 
the  sixth  than  on  the  first  ballot.  It  is  an  evidence  that  our  friends 
had  bottom,  and  that  their  bottom  didn't  fall  out. 

Here  the  roar  of  cannon  from  the  City  Hall  park  shook  the  win- 
dows. Dr  Greeley  approached  the  closed  window  with  a  pleasant 
remark,  and  looked  at  the  dissolving  smoke.  It  was  the  first  gun 
that  had  ever  been  fired  in  his  honor.  After  the  third  discharge  the 
Champion  of  Peace  resumed  his  old  position. 

Reporter  —  You  will  probably  carry  the  South  and  West,  Mr 
Greeley,  and  Massachusetts 

Dr  Greeley  (quickly) — No.  Massachusetts  will  go  for  Grant. 
I  feel  quite  sure  of  it. 

Reporter  —  Grant  might  decline  the  Philadelphia  nomination. 


228  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Or  (Ircek'y  (smiling)  —  It  is  loo  late.  Jlc  ought  to  have  done  it 
six  weeks  ago.     Now  it  is  too  late. 

Reporter  —  If  (irant  declines,  the  i'hiladelphia  men  might  nomi- 
nate, say  Colfax  for  President  and  W'ilson  for  Vice  President. 

Dr  Cireeley  (again  smiling)  —  In  that  case  the  campaign  might 
he  a  very  interesting  campaign.  But  the  time  has  passed  for  such  a 
ticket.     It's  too  late. 

Mere  the  Rev.  Mr  Ray,  a  colored  clergyman,  shook  the  Honest 
C"hanipion  of  the  People  by  the  hand,  saying,  "  We  will  put  you  in 
the  White  House,  Mr  Greeley.    We  surely  will." 

Dr  ( Ireeley  —  The  colored  folks  know  me  pretty  well  by  this  time, 
]  think.  My  record  has  ne\er  been  hidden.  When  they  vote  they 
can't  claim  to  be  blind.     They  vote  with  their  eyes  wide  open. 

At  this  point  Major  D.  P.  Conyngham,  editor  of  the  Irish  Demo- 
crat, approached  Dr  Greeley  and  pledged  him  his  support. 

Dr  Greeley  —  Well,  I  don't  think  my  Irish  friends  will  find  my 
nomination  a  hard  pill  to  swallow. 

Major  Conyngham  —  No,  indeed,  Mr  Greeley.  You  will  find 
them  solid  for  Horace  Greeley.  Betwixt  you  and  Grant,  you  will 
get  a  hundred  to  one  of  their  votes.    I  shall  work  and  vote  for  you. 

Reporter  (wickedly)  —  Mr  Greeley,  Major  Conyngham  is  an  old 
Tammany  Democrat.     He  may  eat  his  words  before  election. 

Dr  Greeley  (earnestly)  — You  have  no  right  to  assume  this.  My 
experience  has  been  different.  I  have  never  found  it  so.  This 
matter,  however,  is  not  a  question  of  nationality,  but  of  the  people. 

Reporter- — The  people  against  a. corrupt  administration. 

Dr  Greeley  —  The  administration  has  made  many  mistakes.  Its 
persecutions  have  been  fatal  to  itself.  The  removal  of  Sumner  from 
the  committee  on  foreign  affairs,  the  l)ase  attacks  upon  Schurz, 
Trumbull,  and  Tipton,  and,  above  all,  the  wholesale  butchery  of  Fen- 
ton's  friends  here  in  this  city,  were  terrible  political  blunders,  but  the 
corruption  that  taints  it  is  much  more  damaging. 

Just  at  the  time  of  his  nomination  for  the  presidency  Mr  Greeley 
was  at  the  high  tide  of  his  popularity  as  a  temperance  lecturer  and 
he  did  not  permit  his  candidacy  to  cancel  any  of  his  engagements. 
Mr  Dana  thought  it  a  mirthful  situation  for  a  Democratic  candidate 
to  be  delivering  assaults  on  the  liquor  habit,  and  he  had  Mr  Greeley's 
temperance  speeches  lavishly  reported.  I  wrote  several  of  the  re- 
ports, and  was  impressed  by  the  speaker's  very  great  earnestness. 
He  was  far  from  possessing  a  spark  of  oratory  but  he  pleaded  with 
his  hearers  to  quit  drink  as  a  father  might  plead  with  a  wayward  son 
to  cease  disgracing  himself.    His  talk  was  conversational,  but  as  he 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  229 

became  interested  his  words  came  faster  and  became  a  shrill  falsetto, 
almost  a  squeak,  and  he  was  not  so  clearly  understood.  He  gestured 
little,  and,  when  he  did  extend  his  arms,  he  spread  his  lingers  like  a 
fan.  He  had  a  way  of  throwing  his  head  and  shoulders  forward  and 
backward  by  way  of  emphasis.  Then,  as  though  it  had  come  to  him 
suddenly  that  he  was  getting  excited,  he  relapsed  into  rigidity  of  body 
and  tranquillity  of  speech,  only  to  do  it  all  over  again.  I  recall  his 
saying  that,  when  the  ancient  Greeks  saw  one  of  their  number  reeling 
through  the  street,  they  pointed  toward  him  and  cried  "  toxicon  " — 
poison,  he  is  poisoned,  poison  !  poison  ! !  for  the  Greeks  of  old  gave  to 
drunkenness  their  name  for  poison ;  —  and  Doctor  Greeley  kept 
shouting  the  word  "  poison  "  until  it  became  a  shrill  note  of  admoni- 
tion that  could  not  but  be  effective  in  the  ears  of  his  listeners.  He 
told  them  that  he  had  taken  the  temperance  pledge  in  1824;  also  how 
in  his  boyhood  days  the  good  clergymen  of  New  Hampshire  used  to 
make  twenty  calls  of  an  afternoon  and  take  a  drink  at  each  stopping 
place ;  how  the  whole  community  got  drunk  when  one  pastor  was 
installed,  and  how  everybody  chided  a  poverty-stricken  fellow  who 
did  not  furnish  drinks  at  his  child's  funeral.  At  this  his  hearers 
laughed,  and  Doctor  Cireeley  told  them  it  was  no  laughing  matter. 

And  it  was  my  lot.  in  the  sad  closing  days  of  his  career,  to  be  the 
reporter  who  first  wrote  that  his  end  was  near.  Mr  Dana  had  heard 
of  Doctor  Greeley's  fatal  illness  and  he  sent  me  to  a  downtown  mer- 
chant, who  detailed  to  me  that  the  editor  was  close  to  death  in  a 
Westchester  county  sanitarium.  On  Thanksgiving  day  morning. 
1872.  the  Sun.  under  the  heading,  "'  Horace  Greeley  Dying,"  told  of 
his  semiconsciousness,  his  insanity  and  his  approaching  death,  which, 
indeed,  was  only  a  few  hours  away. 


NOTES  FOR  A  LECTURE  ON  TEMPERANCE 

As  stated  by  Regent  Lord,  Horace  (ireeley  was  in  great  demand 
as  a  lecturer  on  temperance.  His  attitude  was  well  understood  by  his 
contemporaries,  and  his  lectures,  for  that  day  and  generation,  were 
of  considerable  value.  As  in  many  other  things,  Horace  Greeley  was 
in  advance  of  the  men  of  his  time,  and  he  became  a  pioneer  in  many 
movements  for  social  U]ilift,  which  today  are  just  beginning  to  be 
deemed  of  importance  by  the  country  at  large.  At  a  recent  sale  of 
rare  autographed  letters  and  documents  by  one  of  the  prominent 
sales  companies  of  the  country,  there  was  included  an  item  of  notes 
for  a  temperance  lecture  written  entirely  in  Greeley's  own  hand.  This 
was  acquired  by  the  State  Library,  and  we  present  herewith  copies 
of  the  notes  from  which  he  elaborated  his  lecture.  These  are  written 
on  slips  of  i)aper  2'  _>  by  4  inches  in  size,  and,  while  of  course  they  do 
not  constitute  a  full  lecture,  they  are  so  epigrannnatic  and  direct, 
that  any  one  possessed  of  a  knowledge  of  the  subject,  can  construct 
a  temperance  lecture  from  these  notes  almost  as  easily  as  if  the  whole 
address  were  given.  The  notes  constitute  the  meat  of  the  address; 
and  from  a  knowledge  of  the  man,  we  can  well  prepare  for  ourselves 
the  piquant  and  snappy  sauce  which  he  served  with  it. 

TEMPERANCE 

MANUSCRIPT   NOTES  OF   A   LECTURE. 

I 

Intemperance  has  no  advocates. 

Yet  many  abettors. 

Fair  women  proffer  the  sparkling  glass. 

2 
Every  drunkard  was  once  a  temperate  drinker. 
Many  believe  themselves  still  such. 
The  Queens  county  case. 

3 

"  ( )ur  interest's  on  the  dangerous  edge  of  things." 
We  love  to  e\ince  contemj^t  of  danger. 
Every  family  has  suffered  l)y  strong  drink. 

4 
Yet  the  drunkard's  son  does  not  take  warning.     .     . 
The  drunkard  dies  atid  is  forgotten. 
Our  lying  tombstones. 

231 


232  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

5 

Mistaken  temperance  admonitions. 

"  If  you  drink  you  may  become  a  drunkard." 

But  then  you  may  not. 

6 
Many  ha\e  died  of  (irinkin,c^  who  were  never  drunk. 
We  are  all  hurryinf^  to  the  grave. 
F..\cess  of  all  kinds. 
The  e\ils  of  drinking-  moderately. 

7 
What  is  temperance?    What  is  intemi)erance? 
The  moderate  use  of  things  essentially  hurtful  is  intemperate. 
Opium.    Chloroform.    Arsenic. 

8 

Alcohol  a  poison. 

The  Westminster  Review. 

How  it  affects  a  child.    The  word  intoxicate. 

It  may  yet  be  a  useful  medicine. 

But  doctors  who  never  drink  seldom  prescribe  liquor. 

Dr  Woodward. 

9 
How  liquor  affects  the  human  constitution. 
Incipient  inflammation  of  the  stomach. 
Dr  Sewell's  plates. 

10 
Liquor  stimulates  because  it  poisons. 
"  Liquor  don't  affect  me." 
I  feel  that  dnmkards  bear  an  undue  reproach. 

In  what  respect  is  he  who  drinks  6  glasses  and  is  sober  better  than  he 
who  drinks  4  and  is  made  drunk? 

II 

Liquor  hurts  most  those  whom  it  least  affects.    .    .    . 

Drunkenness  is  not  a  penalty.    It  is  a  merciful  interposition  to  shield. 

12 
Old  men  who  drink. 

I  once  heard  of  one  who  died  108  years  old. 
The  adulteration  of  liquors.    All  but  universal. 
Pure  wines. 
The  manufacture  in  New  York. 


GREELEY   THE    LECTURER 


As  he  appeared  on  the  platform  for  lecture  bureaus  in  the 
early  "seventies  " 


?i^ 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  233 

The  manufacture  of  Burgundy. 
My  experience  of  champagne. 

More  champagne  drunk  in  New  York  city  than  is  made  from  grapes 
in  the  world. 

14 

Strychnine  whiskey. 

An  Ohio  distiller. 

'"  Seven  other  devils  worse  than  the  first." 

American  wine  as  an  antidote  to  intemperance. 

15 
Intemperance  in  wine-drinking  countries. 
The  Bible  testimony. 

Noah.    "  Redness  of  eyes,"  &c.    "  Look  not  on  the  wine,"  &c.    "  O 
thou  invisible  spirit  of  wine." 

16 
The  truth  that  in  temperate  climates  men  are  less  addicted  to  this 

special  vice. 
But  they  use  opium,  hasheesh  &c. 

17 
Men  love  to  be  happy  this  instant  at  whatever  ultimate  cost. 
"  Life  let  us  cherish."    "  Whoever  saw  tomorrow?  " 

18 
Temperance  and  law. 
I  condemn  special  legislation. 
If  alcohol  is  a  poison,  which  nevertheless  has  medical  uses,  let  it  be 

governed  by  the  general    law   regulating   the   dispensation   of 

poison. 

19 
Let  us  have  it  kept  and  dispensed  only  by  men  who  can  be  trusted  to 

do  it  conscientiously. 
The  law  of  1816  regulating  intercourse  with  Indians. 

21 
Intemperance  and  crime. 

Gambling  and  every  form  of  vice  float  on  liquor.    You  can  not  main- 
tain them  without. 
The  blackleg  may  not  drink,  but  he  treats  his  customers. 


234  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

22 

The  cost  of  crime. 

rauperisni  a  fri.y^luful  and  e^rowing  evil. 

i\uni  the  main  cause. 

'■  I  ha\e  been  Nounij^  and  now  I  am  ohl,"  &c. 

^Z 

All  Christendom  appalled  at  this  growing  cancer. 

The  right  of  the  temperate  to  protection  from  wanton  pauperism. 

The  <lrunkard  does  not  go  to  the  rumseller  for  pity. 

24 

His  wife  and  children  appeal  to  us. 

We  must  help  them  by  removing  the  cause  of  their  suffering. 

"  You  don't  reach  the  scat  of  my  disorder." 

25 
We  shall  never  diminish  pauperism  till  we  throttle  intemperance. 
Boasting  of  poverty;     Men  should  not  remain  poor. 
Gerrit  Smith  at  Richmond. 


HORACE    GREELEY'S    LIFE 
STORY 


HORACE  GREELEY'S  LIFE  STORY 

Horace  Greeley  was  born  February  3,  1811,  in  Amherst,  N.  H.,  and 
was  the  son  of  Zaccheus  and  Mary  (Woodburn)  Greeley.  His 
father  was  a  farmer.  The  l)oy  was  early  inured  to  labor,  and  the  or- 
dinary means  of  education  were  ill  supplied.  But  his  mother,  a 
woman  of  remarkable  qualities,  knew  how  to  foster  sentiments  of 
beauty  and  justice ;  while  his  mind,  singularly  active  from  the  first, 
absorbed  the  contents  of  every  book  within  his  reach.  ]t  is  related 
that  at  the  age  of  four  he  could  read  "  any  book  whatever."  When 
he  was  ten  years  old,  the  family  home  was  removed  to  West  Haven, 
\'t.  A  year  later  Horace  sought  employment  without  success  at  the 
office  of  a  newspaper,  and  in  1826  was  apprenticed  to  the  proprietor 
of  the  Northern  Spectator,  printed  at  East  Poultney,  Vt.  His  talent 
quickly  attracted  attention,  some  of  the  most  responsible  work  of  the 
paper  passing  into  his  hands.  The  newspaper  suspended  publication 
in  1830.  Young  Greeley  journeyed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  his 
father  had  found  a  new  home,  labored  on  the  farm,  set  type  in  differ- 
ent offices,  and,  in  1831,  traveled  to  New  York  City,  arriving 
August  19th. 

The  young  stranger  tramped  from  one  printing  office  to  another, 
before  gaining  permission  to  show  what  he  could  do.  He  was 
successively  employed  at  the  printing  shop  of  John  T.  West,  85 
Chatham  street,  and  the  offices  of  the  Evening  Post,  the  Commercial 
Advertiser,  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Times.  Early  in  1833  he  began,  in 
partnership  with  Francis  V.  Story,  the  printing  of  a  penny  paper,  and 
at  the  end  of  its  brief  life  took  uj)  other  enterprises,  at  the  same  time 
by  contributions  to  newspapers  attaining  mastery  of  clear,  original 
exi)ression.  In  1834  he  started,  with  Jonas  Winchester,  the  publi- 
cation of  the  New  Yorker,  which  appeared  on  March  22d,  and  was 
continuerl  for  seven  years.  At  the  end  of  its  third  year  it  had  a 
circulation  of  9500  copies.  In  1838  he  edited  the  Jefifersonian,  a 
campaign  paper  issued  at  Albany.  In  1840  he  brought  out,  in  aid  of 
the  presidential  candidacy  of  William  Henry  Harrison,  the  Log 
Cabin,  which  gained  a  weekly  circulation  of  more  than  80,000.  These 
enterprises  led  the  way  to  the  establishment  of  the  New  York  Tribune, 
the  first  issue  of  which  took  place  April  10,  1841.  The  first  page 
of  the  initial  number  is  occupied  by  the  opinion  of  Attorney  General 
Willis  Hall  "  on  the  legality  of  the  conduct  of  Robert  H.  Morris, 
recorder  of  the  city  of  New  York  "  ;  and  the  second  page  presents 
some  energetic  editorial  comment.  One  article  was  devoted  to 
proofs  that  John  Tyler  was  "  a  thorough  Whig,"  another  to  "  the  un- 

237 


238  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

paralleled  extravagance,  fraud  and  corruption  of  the  present  Loco- 
foco  common  council,"  another  to  a  Whig  victory  in  Connecticut, 
while  another  is  an  argument  intended  to  show  the  need  in  New 
York  city  of  "  a  cheaj)  daily,  devoted  U)  literature,  intelligence,  and 
the  open  and  fearless  advocacy  of  Whig  principles  and  measures." 
News,  advertisements  and  matter  related  to  the  death  of  President 
Harrison  complete  the  four  pages.  The  first  assistant  editor  of  the 
Tribune  was  Henry  j.  Raymond,  later  the  founder  of  the  New  York 
Times.  Se])teml)er  20,  184 r  the  New  Yorker  and  the  Log  Ca])in 
were  merged  in  the  New  York  Weekly  Tribune. 

In  1848  Greeley  was  elected  a  representative  in  Congress  to  fill  out 
an  unexpired  term.  His  service  in  that  body  was  distinguished  by  a 
bill  to  encourage  settlement  of  public  lands,  championship  of  manu- 
factures and  an  effort  to  strike  at  the  slave  trade  in  the  District  of 
Columbia.  Hut  what  marked  it  most  and  made  it  a  fight  from  be- 
ginning to  end  was  a  scathing  exposure  of  legislative  abuses. 

In  the  year  1853  a  farm  of  75  acres  at  Chappaqua,  N.  Y.,  was 
bought.  A  suggestion  of  wdiat  was  accomplished  in  a  short  time  in 
transforming  this  land  is  afiforded  by  the  extract  here  given  from 
James  Parton's  "  Life  of  Horace  Greeley,"  published  in  1855  : 

It  consisted,  three  years  ago,  of  grove,  bog,  and  exhausted  upland, 
in  nearly  equal  proportions.  In  the  grove,  which  is  a  fine  grow^th  of 
hickory,  hemlock,  ironwood  and  oak,  a  small  white  cottage  is  con- 
cealed, built  by  Mr  Greeley,  at  a  cost  of  a  few  hundred  dollars.  The 
farm  buildings,  far  more  costly  and  expensive,  are  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill  on  wdiich  the  house  stands,  and  around  them  are  the  gardens. 
The  marshy  land,  which  was  formerly  very  wet,  very  boggy,  and 
quite  useless,  has  been  drained  by  a  system  of  ditches  and  tiles ;  the 
bogs  have  been  pared  ofif  and  burnt,  the  land  plowed  and  planted, 
and  made  exceedingly  productive.  The  upland  has  been  prepared 
for  irrigation,  the  water  being  supplied  by  a  brook,  wdiich  tumbled 
down  the  hill  through  a  deep  glen.  Its  course  was  arrested  by  a 
dam,  and  from  the  reservoir  thus  formed,  pipes  are  laid  to  the 
different  fields,  wdiich  can  be  inundated  or  drained  by  the  turning 
of  a  cock.  In  the  list  of  prizes  awarded  at  our  last  Agricultural 
State  Fair,  held  in  New  York.  October  1854,  w^e  read,  under  the  head 
of  "vegetables,"  these  two  items:  "Turnips,  H.  Greeley.  Chap- 
paqua, Westchester  co..  Two  Dollars  "  (the  second  prize)  ;  "  Twelve 
second-best  ears  of  white  seed  corn.  H.  Greeley,  Two  Dollars." 
Looking  down  o\er  the  reclaimed  swamp,  all  bright  now  wn'th  waving 
flax,  he  said  one  day,  "  All  else  that  I  have  done  may  be  of  no  avail ; 
liut  what  I  have  done  here  is  done;  it  wdll  last." 

In  185 1  Greeley  visited  Europe,  and  served  as  one  of  the  jurors  at 
the  great  exhibition  in  London.  Four  years  later  he  attended  the 
French  exhibition.    In  1859  he  made  the  journey  across  the  plains 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  239 

to  California,  and  public  receptions  were  accorded  him  in  a  number 
of  towns.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  national  convention 
of  i860,  where  his  influence  was  the  chief  factor  in  the  nomination 
of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  federal 
Senate  in  1861 ;  was  a  member  in  1867  of  the  convention  to  revise 
the  State  constitution ;  ran  for  the  office  of  Comptroller  in  1869;  was 
defeated  in  1870  in  a  congressional  election.  In  the  spring  of  1867 
he  signed  the  bail  bond  of  Jefferson  Davis  at  Richmond,  Va.  In 
1872  Greeley  was  made  the  candidate  of  the  Liberal  Republican  party 
for  President,  on  a  platform  which  demanded  reform  of  the  public 
service,  one  term  of  the  presidency  and  resumption  of  specie  pay- 
ments, though  the  cardinal  issue  was  a  new  policy  in  relation  to  the 
states  lately  in  arms  against  the  government.  His  nomination  by  the 
Democratic  party  followed.  His  canvass  was  distinguished  by  a 
series  of  speeches  which  he  delivered  in  a  tour  of  the  East  and  the 
Middle  West,  speeches  not  more  characterized  by  versatility  and 
richness  of  information  than  by  the  patriotic  spirit  which  lifted  the 
speaker  above  the  low  ground  of  calumny  and  caricature. 

The  November  election  saw  Horace  Greeley  borne  down  by  a  pop- 
ular plurality  of  more  than  three-fourths  of  a  million  votes.  But 
household  affliction,  the  burden  of  the  canvass  and  the  sorrow  due 
to  the  fiery  attacks  of  many  old  friends  had  wrought  such  a  work  on 
brain  and  heart  that  political  defeat  came  as  a  minor  calamity.  Some 
weeks  before  that  event  the  illness  of  his  wife  had  called  him  to  his 
home,  long  and  close  watching  at  her  bedside  reduced  his  depleted 
strength,  and  her  death  left  him  almost  prostrate.  He  never  rallied 
from  the  accumulation  of  ills,  and  on  the  29th  of  November  passed 
out  of  life. 

Greeley's  achievements  did  not  exclude  productions  in  authorship. 
He  found  time  to  write  "  Hints  Toward  Reforms  "  ( 1850),  "  Glances 
at  Europe"  (1851),  "History  of  the  Struggle  for  Slavery^  Exten- 
sion "  (1856),  "  Overland  Journey  to  San  Francisco"  (i860).  "  The 
American  Conflict"  (1864-66),  "Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life" 
(1868,  new  ed.  1873),  "  Essays  on  Political  Economy  "  (1870),  and 
"What  I  Know  of  Farming"  (1871). 

Mr  Greeley  was  married  July  5,  1836  to  Mary  Y.  Cheney.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  two  survived  him.  Ida  Lillian 
and  Gabrielle  Rosamond. 


240  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 


CHRONOLOGY,  1811-1872 

181 1  Feb.  3.     Born  at  Amherst,  N.  H. 

182 1  Jan.   I.     His  family  removed  to  Westhaven,  Vt. 

1822  Sought  employment  in  a  newspaper  ofifice  at  Whitehall,  N.  Y. 
1824  Jan.   I.     Adopted  total  abstinence. 

1826  Apr.   18.     Apprenticed  to  a  printer  at  East  Poultney,  Vt. 

1830  June.     Departed  for  Erie  county,  Pa. 

183 1  Feb.     Employed  by  the  Erie  Gazette. 
183 1  ^Aug.  19.     Arrived  in  New  York  City. 

183 1  Nov.     Employed  by  the  Evening  Post. 

1832  Jan.  I.   (about)     Employed  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Times. 

1833  Jan.   I     Engaged    with    Francis    V.    Story    in    printing    the 

Morning  Post. 

1834  Mar.  22     Started  the  New  Yorker. 

1835  Aug.  12.     His  office  burned. 

1836  July  5.     Married  Mary  Y.   Cheney. 

1838  Feb.   17.     The  Jeffersonian  appeared,  under  his  editorship. 

1839  Feb.  9.     The  last  number  of  the  Jeffersonian  appeared. 

1840  May  2.     Started  the  Log  Cabin. 

1841  Apr.  10.     Started  the  New  York  Tribune. 

184T      July  31.     Announced    his    partnership    with    Thomas    Mc- 
Elrath. 

1841  Sept.  20.     The  New  Yorker  and  the  Log  Cabin  merged  in 

the  Weekly  Tribune. 

1842  Mar.   I.     Published  first  article  of  a  series  on  Fourierism. 

1842  Dec.  9.     Defended  a  suit  for  libel  brought  by  James  Feni- 

more  Cooper. 

1843  Sept.   I.     Started  the  Evening  Tribune. 

1845  Feb.  5.     The  Tribune  building  burned. 

184=;     May  17.     The  Semi- Weekly  Tribune  issued. 

1846  Nov.  20  to  May  20,   1847.     His  controversy  on  Fourierism 

with  Henry  J.  Raymond. 

1847  Journeyed  to  Lake  Superior. 

1847  July  4.     Attended  a  river  and  harbor  convention  at  Chicago. 

1848  Nov.  7.     Elected  to  Congress  for  one  session. 

1848  Dec.   13.     Introduced  a  homestead  act.' 

1849  July  12.     His  son,  Arthur,  died. 

1850  Jan.   19.     First  president  of  New  York  Tvpograi)liical  Union 

No.  6. 

1 85 1  Apr.  II.     Sailed  for  Europe. 


1  Several  biographies  contain  the  .statement  that  Greeley  arrived  in  New 
York  City  on  August  iSth.  Tn  "  Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life  "  he  indicates 
the  date  in  these  words:  "It  was,  if  I  recollect  aright,  the  17th  of  August, 
iS.'^t";  and  on  (he  next  nage  he  states:  "My  first  day  in  New  York  was  a 
Friday."  His  account  of  the  first  three  davs'  residence  is  so  complete  as  to 
leave  no  doubt  that  his  arrival  was  on  Friday:  and  Friday  of  the  week  in 
which  it  is  agreed  that  he  first  saw  that  city  ^vas  the  if)th. 

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the  homestead  act  of  1862. 


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IN    MEMORY    OF    THE    CHAPPAyUA    FARMER 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL 


241 


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Aug.  6.     Sailed  for  New  York. 

Bought  a  farm  at  Chappaqua,  N.  Y. 

Aug.   16.     Attended  the  Anti-Nebraska  state  convention. 

Nov.  II.  Dissolved  his  political  relations  with  Seward  and 
Weed. 

May  and  June.     In  Europe. 

June  2-4.  Imprisoned  in  Paris  on  a  complaint  connected 
with  his  service  as  a  director  of  the  New  York  Exposition 
of  1852-53. 

Sept.  26.     Attended  the  Republican  convention  at  Syracuse. 

Jan.  24.  Assaulted  in  Washington  by  Congressman  Albert 
Rust. 

May  9.     Began  an  overland  journey  to  the  Far  West. 

Aug.  17.  Addressed  a  Grand  Pacific  Railroad  mass  meeting 
in  San  Francisco. 

Sept.  5.     Sailed  from  San  Francisco. 

Sept.  28.     Returned  to  New  York. 

May  16.  Delegate  to  the  national  Republican  convention  at 
Chicago. 

Nov.  9.     Opposed  coercion  of  the  cotton  states. 

Dec.  19.  22.  Opposed  the  Weed  and  the  Crittenden  com- 
promise. 

Feb.  4.     Lost  the  nomination  for  United  States  senator. 

Aug.  19.  Addressed  Lincoln  in  the  "  Prayer  of  Twenty 
Millions." 

July  13.     The  Tribune  building  attacked  by  rioters. 

July  17-21.  At  Niagara  Falls  in  communication  witli 
southern  commissioners. 

Nov.  8.     Presidential  elector-at-large. 

Apr.   II.     Advocated  universal  amnesty. 

Sept.  3.  Delegate  to  the  Loyalists'  convention  at  Phila- 
delphia. 

May  13.     Signed  the  bail  liond  of  Jefiferson  Davis. 

June  4  to  Feb.  28.  1868.  Delegate-at-large  to  the  constitu- 
tional convention. 

Dec.  4.     Declined  the  mission  to  Austria. 

Nov.  2.     Defeated  as  candidate  for  comptroller. 

Nov.  8.     Defeated  in  a  congressional  election. 

May  3.     Nominated  for  the  presidency  at  Cincinnati. 

Nov.  5.     Defeated  in  presidential  contest. 

Nov.  6.     Resumed  the  editorship  of  the  Tribune. 

Nov.  29.     Died  near  Pleasantville,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. 


VICTUR    GUIXZBURG 

Vice  president,  Chappaqua  Historical  Society 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX 

TOWNS  BEARING  GREELEY'S  NAME 
The  Postal  Guide  for  1914  shows  that  there  are  places  in  Alabama, 
Colorado,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Nebraska  and  Pennsylvania  bear- 
ing the  name  Greeley. 

NAMING  THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY 
We  learn  from  "  The  Republican  Party,"  by  Francis  Curtis,  vol- 
ume I,  page  203,  that  the  new  party  received  its  name  in  this  manner : 
A.  N.  Cole,  who  believed  himself  to  be  the  "  Father  of  the  Republican 
party,"  called  a  meeting  for  May  16,  1854.  About  a  month  previously 
he  had  written  to  his  friend  Greeley,  and  told  him  of  his  forthcoming 
convention,  asking  Greeley  in  his  letter,  "  What  name  shall  we  give 
the  new  party?"  To  this  question  Mr  Greeley  replied,  "Call  it 
Republican,  no  prefix,  no  suffix,  but  plain  Republican." 

INTEREST  IN  SPANISH  LIBERTY 
When  Isabella  II  of  Spain  was  deposed  by  the  revolution  which 
broke  out  in  the  autumn  of  1868,  Greeley  joined  with  other  Ameri- 
cans in  an  address  of  congratulation  to  the  Spanish  government  and 
people  on  the  overthrow  of  "  a  tyrannical  and  corrupt  government  " 
at  Madrid  and  the  institution  of  a  government  founded  on  liberal 
principles.  The  date  of  the  i)aper  was  November  3,  1868;  and  among 
the  names  attached  to  it  were  the  signatures  of  E.  D.  Morgan,  Peter 
Cooper,  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton  and  Charles  A.  Dana. 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE 
Illustration:  Horace  Greeley,  President,  1866-1870. 
"  Mr  Greeley,  whose  portrait  adorns  this  report,  was  much  inter- 
ested and  active  in  the  aiTairs  of  the  Institute,  and  acted  as  President 
for  five  consecutive  years.  In  one  of  its  quiet  rooms  [at  the  Cooper 
Institute  Building]  he  wrote  those  powerful  editorials  which  stirred 
the  hearts  of  a  great  nation.  The  Institute  possesses  the  desk  Mr 
Greeley  used  at  that  period." — Eightieth  Annual  Report  of  the 
American  Institute  for  the  year  ending  January  20,  ipop,  page  7. 

A  NEWSPAPER  MEMORIAL 
The  New  York  Tribune,  on  December  20,  1872,  stated  that  Cornell 
University  had  compiled  a  memorial  to  Greeley  from  about  two  thou- 
sand newspaper  articles  on  his  death,  representing  all  parts  of  the 
country. 

245 


246  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

SERVICE  RENDERED  TO  GREELEY  MEMORIALS 

The  successful  inauguration  and  carrying  out  of  the  various 
centenary  observances,  together  with  the  work  of  selecting  the  site 
and  jtlaciiig  the  statue  and  preparing  the  pnigrani  of  exercises  attend- 
ing its  un\eiling  and  dedication.  in\olved  an  immense  amount  of 
labor  on  the  part  of  many  persons.  Of  those  who  gave  of  their  time 
anil  effort  in  this  cause,  and  \\lio  Ijore  the  ])runl  of  the  labor,  the 
expense  and  the  responsil)ility  in  achic\ing  this  success,  it  is  entirely 
fitting  that  special  mention  be  made. 

It  will  not,  however,  be  feasible  to  give  credit  or  mention  in  this 
report  except  to  a  very  few  who  were  conspicuous  in  dedicating 
themselves  —  body  and  soul  —  to  this  undertaking.  The  chief  of 
these  are  undoubtedly  Messrs  John  I.  D.  Bristol  and  Jacob  Erlich, 
resi)ectively  the  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical 
Society.  Others  who  should  be  mentioned  are  Edwin  Bedell,  secre- 
tary, and  Victor  Guinzburg,  vice  president.  In  this  connection  also, 
the  artist,  William  Ordway  Partridge,  who  went  to  work  without 
delay,  with  vim  and  energy,  to  create  the  statue,  deserves  con- 
spicuous notice.  Much  cretlit  is  due  to  this  sculptor  not  only  be- 
cause of  his  beautiful,  artistic  rei)resentation  of  the  master-journalist, 
but  also  because  of  the  easy  and  convenient  financial  terms  by  which 
he  made  it  possible  to  carry  out  this  permanent  memorialization, 
amounting  in  effect  to  a  very  handsome  donation  toward  this  work. 

Dr  James  H.  Hyslop,  secretary  of  the  American  Society  of 
Psychical  Research,  was  kind  enough  to  come  to  Chappaqua  on  the 
evening  of  October  19,  1911,  to  deliver  a  lecture  at  an  entertainment 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Greeley  statue  fund.  The  lecture  was  on  the 
subject  of  a  scientific  demonstration  of  the  immortality  of  the  soul. 
Other  features  of  the  program  were  vocal  selections  by  Mrs  Viola 
W'aterhouse.  Mrs  J.  K.  Adams,  accompanist,  and  a  recitation  of 
"  Thanatopsis  "  by  Mr  John  I.  D.  Bristol. 

Each  of  the  other  members  of  the  Greeley  memorial  committee 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  enterprise,  and.  together 
with  those  already  mentioned,  made  substantial  money  contributions 
Vvhich  were  required  to  carry  on  and  accomplish  the  admirable  de- 
signs so  well  and  so  ambitiously  outlined  by  the  committee.  The 
names  of  these  members  who  have  shown  such  devoted  interest  in 
fixing  in  durable  form  the  memory  of  Horace  Greeley  are :  Morgan 
Cowperthwaite,  George  Hunt.  Wilbur  Hyatt.  George  D.  ]\Iackay, 
John  McKesson,  jr,  Hiram  E.  Manville.  A.  H.  Smith,  L.  O. 
Thompson,  Albert  Turner. 


Tribune  collection 


GREELEY   MONUMENT 

In  Greenwood  cemetery   Brooklyn 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  247 

Acknowledgments  for  photographs  and  cuts  are  due  to  the  art 
department  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  Rev.  Dr  Frank  M.  Clendenin. 
Mr  Frederick  H.  Meserve,  Mr  Ralph  Meeker,  Mr  William  Ordway 
Partridge,  Mr  John  I.  D.  Bristol,  Mrs  Stewart  L.  Woodford,  and 
Mrs  Etta  Kleinert  ( Juinzburg,  w^ho  made  the  Greeley  placque ;  and 
also  to  the  library  and  the  librarian  of  the  Museum  of  the  Type 
Foundry  at  Jersey  City  and  to  the  American  Institute  Library. 
Thanks  are  due  for  printed  material  to  Doctor  Clendenin,  Mr 
Meeker,  Mr  Jacob  Erlich,  Mr  Albert  E.  Pillsbury,  and  Mayor 
George  M.  Houston. 

The  editor  is  especially  grateful  to  Mr  Albert  E.  Henschel,  of 
New  York,  whose  vast  collection  of  Greeleyana  and  whose  inde- 
fatigable labor  in  gathering  much  of  the  material  printed  in  this 
tribute  have  been  of  inestimable  value  in  the  production  of  this 
memorial. 


Tribune  collection 


GREELEY    STATUE    IN    FRONT    OK    TRIBUNE    BUILDING 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MATERIAL   ON   HORACE 
GREELEY 

Part  I  of  this  material  is  an  abridgment,  made  for  tliis  report,  of  a  com- 
pilation prepared  by  the  late  Nathan  Greeley,  editor  of  the  New  Orleans 
Delta;  this  very  valuable  manuscript  book  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
Rev.  Dr  Clendenin.  It  is  supplemented  by  material,  gathered  for  this  Division, 
much  of  which  is  of  later  date  tlian  Nathan  Greeley's  compilation. 

Part  I  consists  of  books  and  pamphlets  written  by  Horace  Greeley,  con- 
tributions to  magazines  and  annual  publications,  articles  for  a  work  of  refer- 
ence, introductions  to  books,  miscellaneous  articles  and  speeches. 

Part  2  consists  of  lists  of  biographies,  biographical  dictionaries,  and  works 
containing  productions  of  his  pen. 

Part   I 
POOKS  AND  PAMPHLETS  BY  HORACE  GREELEY 

Address  before  the  Literary  Societies  of  Hamilton  College,  July  27,, 
1844.    New  York.    William  H.  Graham  1844.    Pamphlet,  40  p. 

Address  on  Success  in  Business,  Delivered  before  the  Students  of 
Packard's  Bryant  and  Stratton  New  York  Business  College, 
New  York.     Packard  1867 

An  Overland  Journey,  from  New  York  to  San  Francisco  in  the 
Summer  of  1859.    New  York.    C.  M.  Saxton  i860 

A  Political  Textbook  for  i860:  Comprising  a  Brief  View  of  Presi- 
dential Nominations  and  Elections :  Including  all  the  National 
Platforms  ever  yet  Adopted :  Also  a  History  of  the  Struggle 
Respecting  Slavery  in  the  Territories,  and  of  the  Action  of 
Congress  as  to  the  Public  Lands.  Compiled  by  Horace  Greeley 
and  John  T.  Cleveland.    New  York.    Tribune  Association  i860 

Art  and  Industry  as  Represented  at  the  Exhibition  at  the  Crystal 
Palace,  New  York,  1853-54:  Showing  the  Progress  and  State 
of  the  Various  Useful  and  Esthetic  Pursuits,  Revised  and 
Edited  by  Horace  Greeley.    New  York.    J.  S.  Redfield  1853 

Association  Discussed ;  or  the  Socialism  of  the  Tribune  Examined, 
by  H.  J.  Raymond  and  Horace  Greeley.     New  York.  Harper 

1847 
Controversy  between  New  York  Tribune  and  Gerrit  Smith.     New 

York.     John  A.  Gray  1855.     Pamphlet,  32  p. 
Divorce :     Being  a  Correspondence  Between  Horace  Greeley  and 

Robert  Dale  Owen.     New  York.    Robert  M.  DeWitt  i860 
Essays  Designed  to  Elucidate  the  Science  of  Political  Economy, 

While  Serving  to  Explain  and  Defend  the  Policy  of  Protection 

to  Home  Industry,  as  a  System  of  National  Cooperation  for  the 

Elevation  of  Labor.     Boston.     Fields  1870 

Dedicated  to  "  The  Memory  of  Henry  Clay,  the  genial,  gallant,  high- 
souled  patriot,  orator  and  statesman." 

249 


250  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Formation    of    Character;    a    Lecture.      New    York.      William    H. 

Graham  1844.     Pamphlet,  24  p. 
Glances   at   Europe:   in   a   Series   of   Letters    from   Great   Britain, 

France.   Italy,  Switzerland  etc..  Durini^  the  Summer  of   i<S5i. 

Inclu(lini(   Notices   of   the   (ireat    Exhibition   or   World's   Fair. 

New  York.     Dewitt  and  Davenport  185 1 
Hints  Toward  Reforms.     New  York.     Harper   1850.     Second  ed. 

cnlari^ed  with  the  Crystal  Palace  and  Its  Lessons.     New  York. 

Fowler  and  Wells  1854 
History  of  the  Struggle  for  Slavery  Extension  or  Restriction  in  the 

United  States,  from  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to  the 

Present    Day.      Mainly    compiled    and    condensed    from    the 

journals  of   Congress  and  other  official  records.     New  York. 

Dix  and  lulwards  1856 

This  history  was  issued  without  any  announcement  and  had  no  preface 
or  introduction.  It  was  intended  to  do  effective  work  in  the  Fremont  cam- 
paign  of    1856. 

Letter  to  a   Politician,  Oct.  20,    1869.     Brooklyn   1877.     Pamphlet, 
privately  printed,  12  p. 
Addressed  to  Samuel  J.  Tilden. 

Letter  of  Horace  Greeley  to  Messrs  Geo.  W^  Blunt,  John  A.  Ken- 
nedy. John  O.  Stone,  Stephen  Hyatt  and  30  others,  members  of 
the  Union  League  Club.  New  York  1867.  Privately  printed, 
16  p. 

Life  and  Public  Services  of  Henry  Clay,  down  to  1848,  by  Epes 
Sargent.  Edited  and  completed  at  Mr  Clay's  death  by  Horace 
Greeley.     New  York.     Greeley  and  McElrath  1852 

Mr  Greeley's  Letters  from  Texas  and  the  Lower  Mississippi ;  to 
Which  Are  Added  his  Address  to  the  Farmers  of  Texas  and 
his  Speech  on  his  Return  to  New  York,  June  12,  1871.  Tribune 
Office  1 87 1.     Pamphlet,  56  p. 

Protection  and  Free  Trade  —  an  Elementary  Exposition  of  the 
Tarifif  Question.    Greeley  and  McElrath  1844.    Pamphlet,  16  p. 

Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life:  Including  Reminiscences  of  Ameri- 
can Politics  and  Politicians,  from  the  Opening  of  the  Missouri 
Contest  to  the  Downfall  of  Slavery;  to  Which  Are  Added 
Miscellanies.  .  .  .  Also  a  Discussion  with  Robert  Dale  Owen 
of  the  Law  of  Divorce.  New  York.  Ford  1868.  Second  ed. 
Tribune  Association  1873 

The  American  Conflict:  a  History  of  the  Great  Rebellion  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  1860-65:  Its  Causes,  Incidents  and 
Results  :  Intended  to  Exhibit  Especially  Its  Moral  and  Political 
Phases,  with  the  Drift  and  Progress  of  American  Opinion  Re- 
specting Human  Slavery  from  1776  to  the  Close  of  the  War 
for  the  Union.  Hartford.  O.  D.  Case  1864,  2  v. 
Volume    I    dedicated   to   "John   Bright.   British   Commoner  and   Christian 

Statesman  " ;  volume  2  to  the  "  Union  Volunteers  of  1861-4." 

The  Tariiif  as  It  Is.     Greeley  and  McElrath  1844.     Pam])hlet.  16  p. 

The  Tariff  Question  ;  or  Protection  and  Free  Trade  Considered. 
New  York.     Greeley  and  McElrath  1852.     Pamphlet,  24  p. 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  25 1 

The  True  Issues  of  the  Presidential  Campaign ;  Speeches  of 
Horace  Greeley  During  his  Western  Trip  and  at  Portland, 
Maine.     Tribune  Association  1872.     Pamphlet,  32  p. 

What  I  Know  of  Farming:  a  Series  of  Brief  and  Plain  Expositions 
of  Practical  Agriculture  as  an  Art  Based  upon  Science. 
Tribune  Association  1871 

Dedicated  to  "  the  man  of  our  age  who  shall  make  the  first  plow  propelled 
by  steam,  or  other  mechanical  power,  whereby  not  less  than  ten  acres  per 
day  shall  l)e  thoroughly  pulverized  to  a  depth  of  two  feet,  at  a  cost  of  not 
more  than   two  dollars  per  acre." 

What  the  Sister  Arts  Teach  as  to  Farming;  an  y\ddress  before  the 
Indiana  State  Agricultural  Society,  at  Its  Annual  Fair,  Oc- 
tober 13,  1853.  New  York.  Fowler  and  Wells  1853.  Pam- 
phlet, 16  p. 

Why  I  Am  a  Whig  —  a  Letter  to  an  Inquiring  Friend.  New  York. 
Greeley  and  McElrath  1852.     Pamphlet,  16  p. 

CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  MAGAZINES  AND  ANNUALS, 
INTRODUCTIONS  ETC. 

The    Knickerbocker   Magazine 

A  Sabbath  with  the  Shakers,  June  1838 

Hunt's   Merchant's  Magazine 
Commerce  and  Protection,  July  and  November  1839 
Remarks  on  Free  Trade,  Alay  1841 
Protection  vs.  Free  Trade,  August  1841 
The  Grounds  of  Protection;  Speech,  March   1843 
Process  of  Working  a  Lake  Superior  Copper  Mine,  November  1848 

The  Lady's  Book 

Adolph  Bruner,  December  1839 

The  Southern  Literary  Messenger 
The  Faded  Stars;  Poem,  February  1840 

Graham's  Magazine 

Niagara  Falls,  August  1842 

My  Fishing  Days,  November  1845 

The  Northern  Light 

Protection  the  Cause  of  Enlightened  Philanthropy,  December  1842 

The  American  Review 

The  Twenty-eighth  Congress,  March  1845 
The  TaritT  Question,  August  1845 

Pandora ;  Review  of  the  President's  Message  and  Treasurer's  Re- 
port, January  1846 
Mr  Walker's  Report  and  Bill,  April  1846 

Universalist  Quarterly  and  General  Review 

The  Idea  of  a  Social  Reform,  April  1845 


252  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE   OF    NEW    YORK 

The  Young  American's  Magazine 
How  to  Make  a  Man,  March  1847 
The  Divorce  of  Learning  and  Labor,  May  1847 
Romance  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,  July  1847 
The  lloj)e  of  Human  Progress,  October  1847 
Obstacles  to  Universal  Elevation,  December  1847 

De   Bow's  Commercial  Review 

]\i\cr  and  liarlxjr  Jmijrovements  ;  the  Chicago  Convention,  Novem- 
ber   1847 

The  Nineteenth  Century 
Land  Reform,  January  1848 
The  Emancipation  of  Labor,  April  1848 
Life  —  the  Ideal  and  the  Actual,  July  184S 
Means  and  Chances  of  Success  in  Life,  October  1848 

Holden's  Dollar  Magazine 

Tendencies  of  Modern  Civilization,  January  1849 

The  Edinburgh  Review 
Review  of  a  Reviewer,  January   1852 

Putnam's  Magazine 

iNIodern  Spiritualism,  January  1853 

The  Continental  Monthly 

Across  the  Continent,  January  1862 

On  the  Plains,  February  1862 

Southern  Hate  of  the  North,  October  1862 

The  Obstacles  to  Peace,  Deccml^er  1862 

The  New  York  Ledger 

Edward  Everett,  April  26,  1862 

A  series  of  articles  under  the  title,  "  Recollections  of  a  Busy  Life,"  was 
contributed  to  that  paper  during  a  period  extending  from  August  17,  1867, 
to  September  19,  1868. 

The  Little  Corporal 

A  series  of  articles  contributed  under  the  general  title,  "  Counsel  to 
Boys." 

Self  Trust,  April  1867 

Religion,  May  1867 

Education,  June   1867 

Choosing  a  Vocation,  August  1867 

The  Independent 

The  New  Hope  of  Labor,  July  1867 
The  Farmer's  Festival,  October  1867 

The  Galaxy 

The  Fruits  of  the  War,  July  1867 
The  One  Term  Principle,  October  1871 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  253 

Harper's   Magazine 

The  Plains,  as  I  Crossed  Them  Ten  Years  Ago,  May  1869 

Journal  of  Social  Science 
A  Method  of  Diffusing  Useful  Knowledge,  June  1869 

The  Golden  Age 
The  Woman  Question,  1871 

Wood's  Household  Magazine 
Counsel  to  Young  Men,  January  1871 
True  and  False  Marriage,  September  1871 
Farming  and  Manhood,  October  1871 
Capital  and  Labor,  November  1871 
The  Conclusion  of  the  Matter,  December  1871 
Planning  a  Career,  January  1872 
Manhood  and  Citizenship,  March  1872 
A  Plea  for  Frugality,  April  1872 
Migration  —  Colonization  —  Homes,   May    1872 
Our  Westward  Progress,  June  1872 
New  England,  Past  and  Present,  July  1872 
The  South,  September  1872 

Our  Mutual  Friend 
Commerce  as  a  Pursuit;  Reasons  for  Avoiding  It,  August  1871 

The  City 
The  Centenary  of  American  Independence,  illustrated,  January  1872 

American  Journal  of  Education 
Currency  and  Finance,  i  :632 

People's  Journal,  London 
Cooperative  Life  in  America,  4:167 

The  Inland  Monthly 
Great  Men:  a  Posthumous  Lecture,  October  1874 

LITERARY    EFFORTS 

Mr  Greeley  contributed  from  1840  to  1857  essays  and  poems  to 
many  annuals,  souvenirs  and  "  parlor  table  "  books. 

AMERICAN    INSTITUTE    ADDRESSES 

He  was  also  liberally  represented  in  the  published  transactions  of 
the  American  Institute,  of  which  he  was  elected  president. 
A  list  of  addresses  follows: 

Address  on  Forest  Trees,  Trans,  for  1864  and  1865 
Opening  Address  at  the  37th  Annual  Exhibition,  Trans,  for 

1867  and  1868 
Paper  on  Deep  Plowing,  Trans,  for  1869  and  1870 
Address  at  the  Celebration  of  the  40th  Anniversary  of  the 

Origin  of  the  Institute 
Address   at   the   Opening   of   the   39th   Annual   Exhibition, 

Trans,  for  1870  and  1871 
Address  at  the  Closing  of  the  39th  Annual  Exhibition 


254  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

The  Tribune  Almanac 

The  W'liij^f  Almanac  and  Politician's  Register  for  i83(S:  con- 
taining l*"ull  Tables  of  the  Vote  for  i'resident  in  the  Several  States 
Ijy  Counties,  Compared  with  the  Votes  Cast  in  the  same  States  and 
Counties  during  the  Last  Year.  .  .  .  New  York.  Published  by 
H.  Greeley,  and  for  sale  at  the  New  York  ( )flice,  127  Nassau  street, 
1838. 

The  lirsl  minibcrs  of  the  Ahiianac  were  of  a  strong  partisan  bias,  contain- 
ing articles  from  the  Whig  standpoint  on  the  great  issues  of  the  day.  It 
gradually  dropped  these  articles  and  after  1855  contained  besides  the  election 
tal)les  the  summary  of  events  at  home  and  abroad,  and  the  principal  acts  of 
Congress. 

The  Protection  of  Industry:  Its  Necessity  and  Effects,  1843 
The  Grounds  of  Difference  between  the  contending  Parties,  1843 
Henry  Clay ;  on  His  Retiring  from  the  United  States  Senate ;  Poem, 

1843 
The  Past  and  the  Future,  1845 
The  Tariff  Question,  1846 
The  Necessity  for  Protection,  1846 
Political  History   for   1846,   1847 

Origin  of  the  Alexican  War;  Facts  to  be  Considered,  1848 
The  Mileage  of  Congress,  1850 
Postal  Reform,  1850 
The  Pubhc  Lands,  1850 
Congress  in  1850,  1851 

Why  I  Am  a  Whig;  Reply  to  an  Inquiring  Friend,  1852 
The  Knovv-Nothings,  1855 

In   1868  the  almanacs  for  1858  to   1868  were  reprinted  in  two  volumes. 

Johnson's  Cyclopedia 

Johnson's  New  Universal  Cyclopedia.     New  York.     A.  J.  Johnson 
1877.    4V. 

Dedication 

To  the  memory  of  the  late  Horace  Greeley,  the  great  philanthro- 
pist and  j)ublic  educator  —  whom  only  to  know  was  to  love  —  this 
Universal  Cyclopedia,  which  he  planned  and  assisted  in  editing  in 
part,  is  reverently  dedicated  by  his  devoted  friend  and  household 
companion,  the  publisher. 

The  publisher's  announcement  said  that  "  the  original  suggestion 
df  this  work  is  due  to  the  late  Hon.  Horace  Greeley  LL.  D." 

Mr  Greeley's  Contributions 
Abolition  of  Slavery,  i  :i2 
Abstinence,  Total,  1:15 
Agriculture,  i  162 
Anti-Masonry,  1:175 
Anti-Slavery  Society,  American,  1:179 
Clay,  Henry,  1:971 
Confederate  States,  or  Southern  Confederacy,  i  :i095 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  255 

Introductions  and  contributions 

Principles  of  Political  Economy,  by  William  Atkinson.  With  an 
introduction  by  Horace  Greeley.     Greeley  and  ]\IcElrath  1843 

The  Writings  of  Cassius  Marcellus  Clay.  Edited,  with  a  preface 
and  memoir  by  Horace  Greeley.     Harper  1848 

Report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Patents  for  the  Year  1849.  W'ith 
an  introduction  by  Horace  Greeley.  New  York.  J.  S.  Red- 
field  1850 

Literature  and  Art,  by  S.  Margaret  Fuller.  With  an  introduction 
by  Horace  Greeley.     New  York.     Fowler  and  Wells  1852 

Woman  in  the  Nineteenth  Century,  by  Margaret  Fuller.  With  an 
introduction  by  Horace  Greeley.    Boston.    John  P.  Jewett  1855 

The  Life  and  Campaigns  of  General  U.  S.  Grant,  by  Rev.  P.  C. 
Headley.  W'ith  an  introduction  by  Horace  Greeley.  New 
York.     Derby  and  Miller  1868 

Tribune  Essays:  Leading  Articles  by  Charles  T.  Congdon.  With 
an  introduction  by  Horace  Greelev.  New  York.  J.  S.  Red- 
field  1869 

Voices  from  the  Press:  a  Collection  of  Sketches,  Essays  and  Poems, 
by  Practical  Printers.     New  York.     Charles  B.  Norton  1850 

Contains  a  sonnet,  Portrait  of  a  Lady,  the  Pilgrimage  to  Manhood,  and 
The  Ideal  of  a  True  Life,  by  Horace  Greeley. 

Memoirs  of  Margaret  Fuller  Ossoli.     Boston.     Phillips  and  Samp- 
son 1852 
Contains  Margaret  Fuller  in  New  York,  by  Horace  Greeley. 
Autographs  for  Freedom.    Edited  by  Julia  Griffiths.    Boston.    John 
P.  Jewett  1853 
Contains  Work  and  Wait,  by  Horace  Greeley. 
Autographs    for    Freedom.      Edited    by    Julia    Griffiths.      Auburn. 
Alden  and  Beardsley  1855 
Contains  The  Dishonor  of  Labor,  by  Horace  Greeley. 
Homes  of  American  Statesmen.     New  York.     Putnam  1854 

Contains  Henry  Clay,  by  Horace  Greeley. 
Proceedings  of  the  Tribune  Club.     New  York.     Cleveland  and  Mc- 
Elrath  1855 

Contains  speech  of  Horace  Greeley  in  response  to  the  toast:  "The  New 
York  Tribune." 

The  United  States  Illustrated.  Edited  by  Charles  A.  Dana.  New 
York.     Hermann  J.  Meyer,  no  date 

Contains  The  Capitol  at  Washington,  Mount  Vernon,  and  Representatives 
Hall,  at  Washington,  by  Horace  Greeley. 

The  Religious  Aspects  of  the  Age:    Addresses  Delivered  at  the 
Anniversary   of   the   Young   Men's   Christian   Union   of    New 
York,    May    13    and    14,    1858.      New    York.      Thatcher    and 
Hutchinson  1858 
Contains  The  Christian  Spirit  of  Reform  by  Horace  Greeley. 


256  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE   OF    NEW    YORK 

Speeches  Delivered  at  the  Repubhcan  Union  Festival  in  Commemo- 
ration of  the  Birth  of  Washington;  Held  at  Irving  Hall,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1862.     New  York.    Putnam  1862 
Contains    a    speech    by    Horace    Greeley   in    response   to   the   toast,    "  The 

Press." 

Banquet  to  Anson  P>urlingame  and  His  Associates  of  the  Chinese 
Embassy,  by  Citizens  of  New  York,  on  Tuesday,  June  23,  1868. 
New  York.     Sun  Book  and  Job  Printing  House  1868 
Contains    a    speech    of    Horace    Greeley    in    response   to    the    toast,    "  The 

Press." 

A  History  of  the  Celebration  of  Robert  Burns's  iioth  Natal  Day, 
at  the  Metropolitan  Hotel,  New  York.  Jersey  City.  John 
H.  Lyon  1869 

Contains  a  speech  by  Horace  Greeley  in  response  to  the  toast,  "Auld  Lang 
Syne." 

The   Unity   of   Italy:   the  American   Celebration   of   the   Unity   of 
Italy,  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  New  York,  January  12,  1871. 
Putnam  1871 
Contains  a  speech  by   Horace   Greeley. 
The  Great  Industries  of  the  United  States.     Hartford.    J.  B.  Burr 
and  Hyde  1872 
Contains  The  Tariff,  a  Protection  to  Manufacturers,  by  Horace  Greeley. 
American    Politics,    by    Thomas    V.    Cooper    and    H.    J.    Fenton. 
Chicago.     Charles  R.  Brodix  1882 
Contains  The  Grounds  of  Protection,  a  speech  by  Horace  Greeley  at  the 
Tabernacle,  New  York,  February  10,   1843. 

The  Poets  of  New  Plampshire.     Compiled  by  Bela  Chapin.    Clare- 
mont,  N.  H.     Charles  H.  Adams  1883 
Contains  The  Faded  Stars,  Darkness  over  Earth  Was  Sleeping,  and  On 
the  Death  of  William  Wirt,  by  Horace  Greeley. 

The  Library  of  Choice  Literature.     Spofford  and  Gibbon.     Phila- 
delphia.    Gebbie  1883 
Contains  My  Farming,  and  Three  Great  Senators,  by  Horace  Greeley. 


Part  2 

BIOGRAPHIES  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  HORACE 

GREELEY 

Brockett,  L.  P.     Men  of  Our  Day.     1868 

Buel,  Clarence  Clough.  Biographical  and  Critical  Sketch  of 
Horace  Greeley,  in  Warner's  Library  of  the  World's  Best 
Literature.     V.  12,  p.  6653-56 

Cornell  Memorial  of  Horace  Greeley.  A  collection  of  about  2000 
newspaper  articles  on  the  death  of  Greeley,  at  Cornell  Uni- 
versity 

Erlich,  Jacob.  Centenary  of  Horace  Greeley.  Chappaqua  His- 
torical Society  1911 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  257 

Ingersoll,  Lewis  J,    The  Journalist,  Reformer  and  Philanthropist ; 
the  Life  of  Horace  Greeley.     Philadelphia.     John  E.  Potter 

Life  of  Horace  Greeley,  written  in  nine  and  one-half  minutes  by 

the  great  trance  medium.    Baltimore  1872 
Linn,  William  A.    Horace  Greeley.    New  York.    Appleton  1903 
Parton,  James.     Life  of  Horace  Greeley.     New  York.     Mason 

Bros.  1855.     New  edition,  Boston,  Houghton  and  Mifflin  1897 
Pike,  James  S.     Horace  Greeley  in  1872.     RepubHshed  from  the 

New  York  Tribune 
Rahmer,  Adolph.    Das  Leben  Horace  Greeley's.    Boston.    Osgood 

1872 
Reavis,  L.  U.     A  representative  Life  of  Horace  Greeley.     New 

York.     Carlton  1872 
Sotheran,    Charles.      Horace    Greeley    and    Other    Pioneers    of 

American  Socialism.     Humboldt  Publishing  Co.  1892 
Wild  Oats.     Comic  Life  of  Horace  Greeley.     New  York  1872 
Zabriskie,    Francis    Nicoll.      Horace   Greeley,   the   Editor.      New 

York.     Funk  &  Wagnalls  1890 

CYCLOPEDIAS  AND  DICTIONARIES  OF  BIOGRAPHY 

Articles  on  Horace  Greeley  have  appeared  in  the  following  bio- 
graphical works  of  reference : 
Alton's  Encyclopedia.     Minneapolis  1910 
American  Annual  Cyclopedia.     New  York.    Appleton  1872 
American   Dictionary  of   Printing  and  Bookmaking.     New   York. 

Howard  &  Lockwood  1894 
Appleton's  Cyclopedia  of  American  Biography 
Biographical    Dictionary    of    America.      Boston.      American    Bio- 
graphical Society  1906 
Biographical  Sketches  of  Preeminent  Americans.     Boston.     E.  W. 

Walker  1893 
Cyclopedia  of  American  Government.     New  York.     Appleton  1914 
Cyclopedia    of    Political    Science.      John    J.    Lalor,    ed.      Chicago 

1881-84 
Cyclopedia  of  Temperance  and  Prohibition.     New  York.     Funk  & 

Wagnalls  1891 
Dictionary  of  American  Biography.    Boston.    Houghton  &  Osgood 

Dictionary  of  Political  Economy.     London.     Macmillan  1910 
Dictionary    of    United    States    History.      Puritan    Publishing    Co. 

Boston  1894 
Encyclopedia  Britannica.     Edinburgh.     Black  1879 
Encyclopedic  Dictionary  of  American  History,  in  Library  of  Ameri- 
can History.     Washington.    American  Historical  Society  1900 
Harper's  Encyclopedia  of  United  States  History.     New  York  1902 
History   for  Ready  Reference.     Springfield.     C.   A.    Nichols   Co. 

1895-1910.    V.  5,  p.  3573 
History  of  the  State  of  New  York,  also  an  Encyclopedia  of  Biog- 
raphy.    New  York.     Comley  Bros.  1877 


258  THE    UNIVERSITY    OF   THE    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK 

Lamb's  Biographical  Dictionary  of  United  States.  Boston.  James 
R.  T.amb  Co.  1900 

National  Cyclopedia  of  American  Biography.  New  York.  White 
1893 

New  Encyclopedia  of  Social  Reform.  New  York.  Funk  &  Wag- 
nails  1910 

Poi)nlar  Cyclopedia  of  United  States  History.    New  York.    Harper 

Universal  Dictionary  of  Biography.    Philadelphia.     Lippincott  kjoi 

PUBLICATIONS    WHICH    CONTAIN    WRITINGS    OF    HORACE 

GREELEY 

Amendment  to  the  Constitution,  Tribune  Tract  No.  3,  1866. 

Contains  letters  of  Greeley  and  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 
Carpenter,  S.  D.     Logic  of  History.     Madison,  Wis.  1864 

Contains  extracts  from  the  New  York  Tribune. 
Eminent  Women  of  the  Age.    Hartford.    Betts  1868 

Contains  an  essay  on  Alice  and  Phoebe  Cary. 
Forum.     November  1897,  24:270  and  December  1897,  24:404,  412 

Contains  letters  to  Justin  S.  Morrill. 
Freedley,  Edv^^in  Troxell.    How  to  Make  Money.    Routledge  1853 

Contains  Principles  and  Prospects  of  Trade. 
House  Report  No.  48,  30th  Congress,  2d  session,  vol.  i 

Contains  report  on  Lake  Superior  Mineral  Lands. 
Independent.    October  19,  1905,  p.  912-15 

Contains  unpublished  letters  furnished  by  Frederick  E.  Snow. 
Johnson,  C.  W.     Republican  Party :     National  Conventions,  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  First  Three  Republican  National  Conventions 
of   1856,   i860  and   1864,  Including  Proceedings  of  the  Ante- 
cedent  National  Convention  Held  at   IMttsburgh  in  February 
1856,  as  Reported  by  Horace  Greeley.     Minneapolis  1893 
Liberal  Republican  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  May  1-3,  1872,  Pro- 
ceedings 
Contains  the  letter  of  acceptance. 
Love,  Marriage  and  Divorce,  and  the  Sovereignty  of  the  Individual. 
A    discussion    between    Henry    James,    Horace    Greeley    and 
Stephen  P.  Andrews    .  .    .    and  a  subsequent  discussion    .    .    . 
20  years  later  between  Mr  James  and  Mr  Andrews.     Boston. 
B.  R.  Tucker  1889 
New  York  State  Constitutional  Convention  of  1867,  Proceedings. 

Contains  speeches. 
New  York  Sun,  May  6,  1872 
Contains  a  letter  to  boy  editors. 
New  York  Times,  June  15,  i860 

Contains  the  letter  of   1854  on  policial  appointments. 
North  American  Review,  April  1867 

Contains    a    letter    in    relation    to    a    critical    notice    of    "  The    American 
Conflict." 


HORACE    GREELEY    MEMORIAL  259 

Our  Day:     A  Gift  for  the  Times.     Edited  by  J.  G.  Adams.     B.  B. 
Mussey  1848 
Contains  Fourier  and  his  Social  System. 
Saturday  Evening  Post.  November  9.  1901 

Contains  a  letter. 
Spencer,   J.    A.    [Jesse   Ames].      Historia   de   los   Estados-Unidos 
desdc   su   primer   periodo   hasta   la   administracion   de   Jacobo 
Buchanan,  continuada  hasta  nuestros  dias  por  Horacio  Greeley ; 
traduccion      .      .      .      por    E.    L.    Verneuill.      Buenos    Aires. 
Pic|ueras.  Cus]Mnera  y  Cia.     1870,  3V. 
Warner,  Charles  Dudley,  cd.     Library  of  the  World's  Best  Liter- 
ature, V.I 2,  p.  6653-56. 
Contains  extracts  from  "  The  American  Conflict." 


THE    GUINZBURG    PLAQUE 

Presented  by  Mrs  Victor  Guinzburg  to  the  Chappaqua 
Historical  Society 


INDEX 


Addresses,  extracts  from,  217-21 
Alden,  H.  M.,  letter  from,  120-21 
American      institute,      Mr      Greeley 

president  of,  245 
American  Institute  Library,  acknowl- 
edgments  to,   247 
Amherst,  N.  H.,  exercises  at,  63-77 
Assembly,     remarks    of    Alfred     E. 
Smith,  22 

Barnes,  Rev.  Otis  Tiffany,  remarks, 

125 
Bedell.      Edith      Dorothea,      Horace 

Greeley  and  woman  suffrage,  134- 

35 
Bedell,   Edwin,  acknowledgments  to, 

246 

Beecher,  Henry  Ward,  extract  from 
letter,  52 

Beveridge,  Albert  J.,  Horace  Greeley 
and  the  cause  of  labor,  104-9 

Bristol,  John  I.  D.,  interest  in  memo- 
rial to  Horace  Greeley,  17 ;  ad- 
dresses, 36-38,  128-34;  acknowledg- 
ments to,  246,  247 

Brown,  John,  death,  198 

Campaign  addresses  of  1872,  211-14 
Chappaqua,    statue    at,    inaugurated, 
29-31 ;  dedication  of  monument  at, 
125-46 
Chappaqua     Historical    Society,    or- 
ganization,   18;    extract    from    by- 
laws,   20;     address    of    president, 
128-34 
Church,     Colonel     William     Conant, 

letter  from,  19 
Chronology,   1811-1872,  240-41 
Clendenin,  Rev.   Dr  F.  M.,  address, 

126-28;  acknowledgments  to,  247 
Clendenin,  Mrs  Gabrielle  Greeley,  A 
personal     impression     of     Horace 
Greeley,  33-35 
Conformity,  address  on,  217 
Cornell  University,  newspaper  memo- 
rial, 245 


Counsel  to  young  men,  202-5 
Cowperthwaite,     Morgan,     acknowl- 
edgments to,  246 

Day,  Richard  E.,  Horace  Greeley, 
the  journalist,  140-42;  Horace 
Greeley,  political  and  social  leader, 

169-75 
Deacy,  William  Henry,  architect  of 

the  pedestal,  23 
Dedication  of  monument,  125-46 
Dix,  Governor  John  A.,  proclamation 

by,  21 

Education,  addresses  on,  218 
Erlich,  Jacob,  interest  in  memorial  to 
Horace  Greeley,  17;  addresses,  31- 
2,2,    136-37;    acknowledgments    to, 
246,  247 

Farmer's  calling,  205-7 
Formation  of  character,  extract  from 
lecture  on,  218 

Greeley,  Horace,  nomination  for 
President,  11,  52,  yz,  226;  accept- 
ance of  nomination,  12;  defeat,  13; 
death,  14;  sketch  of  life,  46-53, 
64-77,  92-95 ;  connection  with  New 
York  Tribune,  47,  (>T,  86.  112,  141, 
225 ;  Horace  Greeley  and  the  cause 
of  labor,  104-9;  Horace  Greeley  as 
a  journalist,  109-19,  140-42;  Horace 
Greeley  and  woman  suffrage,  134- 
35;  Horace  Greeley  and  the 
printers,  143-45 ;  original  manu- 
scripts, 149-52;  letters,  149-52;  as 
a  colonist,  155-65;  letter  on 
Greeley,  Colorado,  165-66;  political 
and  social  leader,  169-75 ;  orator, 
editor  and  national  benefactor, 
175-76;  newspaper  comment  on, 
179-85;  characteristic  utterances, 
187-208;  campaign  addresses,  211- 
14;  addresses,  217-21;  life  story, 
'^■Zl-Z^ ;  chronology,  240-41 ;  bio- 
graphical material,  249-59 


261 


262 


INDEX 


Greeley,  Colorado,  proclamation  of 
Mayor,  22;  Horace  Greeley 
honored  in,  81-97;  founding  of,  by 
Ralph  Meeker,  85-89;  Horace 
Greeley  as  a  colonist,  155-65; 
Horace  Greeley's  letter  on,   165-66 

Guinzburg,  Mrs  Etta  Klcincrt, 
acknowledgments  to,  247 

Guinzburg,  Victor,  acknowledgments 
to,  246 

Hays,  Daniel  P..  address,  35 
Henschel,    All)ert    E.,    discovery    of 

"  Oration     at     grave     of     Horace 

Greeley,"      17 ;     addresses,     44-45, 

137-40;  acknowledgments  to,  247 
Holden,     James     Austin,     Why     the 

centenary  was  held,  17-25 
Houston,  George  M.,  address,  81-85 ; 

acknowledgments  to,  247 
Howard,  Oliver,  address,  89-96 
Howells,  W.  D.,  letter  from,  120 
Hunt,  George,    acknowledgments    to, 

246 
Hyatt   Wilbur,    acknowledgments    to, 

246 
Hyslop,  James  H.,  acknowledgments 

to,  246 

Kansas,  to  men  of,  207-8 
Kendrick,  John  R.,  letter  from,  19 
King,  Horatio  C.  address,  46-53 
King,  Joseph  E.,  quoted,  175-76 

Legislature  of   1913,  bill  relating  to 

unveiling  of  monument,  24 
Letters,  1 19-21,  149 
Lincoln,    Abraham,    letter    to,     189; 

answer,  190;  extract  from  address 

on,  221 
Lord,  Chester  S-,  Some  recollections 

of  Horace  Greeley,  225-29 

McAdoo,  William  G.,  address,  54-55 
McCorkle,  Walter  L.,  letter  from,  38 
McElroy,       William       H.,       Horace 

Greeley  as  a  journalist,   109-19 
Mackay,     George     D.,     acknowledg- 
ments to,  246 
McKesson,     John,     jr,     acknowledg- 
ments to,  246 


McXaught,  John,  address,  59-60 

Magnanimity  in  triumph,  198 

Manuscripts,  original,  of  Horace 
Greeley,  149-52 

Manville,  Hiram  E.,  acknowledg- 
ments to,  246 

Marriage  and  divorce,  letters  on, 
i9-'-9S 

Meeker,  Ralph,  The  founding  of 
Greeley,  Colorado,  85-89,  155-65; 
acknowledgments  to,  247 

Mcserve,  Ere  lerick  H.,  acknowledg- 
ments to,  247 

Monument    dedication,  125-45 

New  era,  address  on,  219 

New  York  City,  board  of  aldermen, 
resolution  adopted  by,  22 

New  York  City  hall,  memorial  meet- 
ing, 43-60 

New  York  Tribune,  Greeley's  con- 
nection with,  32,  47,  (>"],  86,  112, 
14:,  225;  acknowledgments  to,  247 

New  York  World,  editorial  on 
Horace  Greeley,  20 

Newspaper  comment,  177-85 

Newspaper  memorial  compiled  by 
Cornell  University,  245 

Partridge,  William  Ordway,  sculptor, 
23 ;  acknowledgments  to,  246,  247 

Pillsbury,  Albert  E.,  address,  64-77  \ 
acknowledgments  to,  247 

Fress,  address  on,  220 

Protection,  correspondence  on,  195 

Reconstruction,  200 
Republican  party,  naming,  245 

Scott,   Marsden   G.,   Horace  Greeley 

and  the  printers,   143-45 
Secession,  207 
Senate,  resolution  by,  21 
Sickles,  Maj.  Gen.  Daniel  E.,  address, 

53-54 
Smith,   A.    H.,    acknowledgments   to, 

246 
Spanish  liberty,  interest  in,  245 
Statue     at     Chappaqua     inaugurated, 

29-31 ;   dedicated,   125-46 
Studies  and  reminiscences,  155-66 


INDEX 


263 


Temperance,  notes  for  a  lecture  on, 

231-34 
Thompson,    L.    O.,    acknowledgments 

to,  246 
Tole,  James,  address,   101-3 
Towns   bearing  Greeley's   name,   245 
Turner.  Albert,  acknowledgments  to. 

246 
Turner,  Perry  Brevoort,  acknowledg- 
ment on  behalf  of  the  school 
children  of  Chappaqua,  135 
Type  Foundry  of  Jersey  City, 
acknowledgments  to  library  and 
librarian  of  museum,  247 


Typographical  union  no.  6,  commem- 
orative exercises  by,  ioi-2t 

Union  League  Club,  letter  to.  191 

Vogt,  Charles,  letter  from.  119 

White,  Charles  A.,  address,  96 
Williams,  Rev.  Dr  Leigbton,  address, 

55-59 
Woodford,  Gen.  Stewart  L..  address. 

32 
Woodford,        Mrs        Stewart        L., 
acknowledgments  to,  247 


